Mbalula’s drive lauded

It was encouraging to hear new transport minister Fikile Mbalula’s vision for his department. Hopefully he will continue giving briefings and co-operation with the public will become a national tradition.

He outlined four tasks: firstly, a staff shake-up entailing recruitment of skilled personnel, improving existing skills, improving discipline in the workplace and raising morale.

We are a society that respects workers’ rights. It’s time we did the same with consumer rights by showing up at work on time and providing consumers with a productive day’s work.

The second task is to develop an integrated transport system. He did not elaborate. He might give clearer details later.

His third goal is collaboration with other ministries. Cabinets work as a team – except when a president listens to outside forces. We see this as a message to forces outside government not to meddle. He gets an A for advocating for an independent, cohesive cabinet that works as a unit to avoid being captured.

Lastly, Mbalula wants to focus on bringing order to the taxi industry. But he seemed to omit the social challenges.

Safety is a big concern as women are raped in the taxi and Uber industry by taxi employees. Then there is the spectre of accidents. Part of the problem is inadequate deterrent measures. The practice of hiring people with a criminal background needs to change. – Wongaletu Vanda, via e-mail