The South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) Johannesburg region has launched its new taxi sticker for commuters to easily identify permissible public taxis.
The official launch was held at Ivory Park Taxi Association (IPTA)’s main taxi rank on September 9.
The event was attended by representatives from Hlokomela Project, Toyota Halfway House, IPTA taxi operators and executives of associations from Johannesburg regions, Sedibeng, Ekurhuleni, Tswane, Johannesburg and Western Gauteng.
IPTA’s chairman and president of Santaco in Gauteng, Johannes Mkhonza, did not attend the event due to other commitments.
On the day of launch, about 30 Quantums were covered with two new stickers each pasted at the back and front. Taxi managers (drivers) were given free caps donated by Toyota Halfway House.
Speaking during the launch, Santaco’s provincial public relations officer Midday Mali said they wanted their vehicles to be easily identifiable for the safety of commuters and drivers on the road.
“The new stickers are not replacing taxi associations’ stickers. The Santaco stickers on vehicles are meant to show the taxis on the road belong to the organisation. We want our commuters to easily identify which vehicles operate as taxis and which do not,” said Mali.
Mali encouraged commuters to check for the new stickers before getting into taxis for safety.
He emphasised that the primary objective of implementing the new sticker was to respond to the Department of Community Safety due to the recent crime reports of taxi Quantums involved in criminal elements around Gauteng.
“We received complaints from community safety that cases of rape and robbery were escalating in communities involving taxi Quantums. We are not sure if these taxis belong to our association. So, the stickers would make it easy to know which taxis belong to our organisation and which don’t,” added Mali.
Mali said they hoped the new sticker would bring a good relationship among taxi associations operating on long distance trips.
“The stickers will create a good relationship between associations in other regions as they will be easily recognised,” he added.
Zweli Mtuze, public relations officer for the Johannesburg region, said the event was a success and thanked everyone who made it possible.
“The launch went beyond our expectations and we fully support the idea of the new sticker as it is going to make things easier and clear up all these negative reports about taxi associations,” added Mtuze.
The new sticker represents a symbol of a woman’s figure.
“As taxi associations, we support the fight against women and child abuse. People should stop taking advantage of women and start respecting them,” said Mtuze.
He surged all executives of associations to further make the project a success by following up with taxi operators to comply with the new sticker rule.
IPTA’s treasure Johannes Mogoswane encouraged commuters to report any complaints or negative treatment of taxi operators to its offices.
