Taxi operators to be rewarded for good behaviour
City officials hope to add value to mini-bus taxi business operations by providing rewards such as discounts on tyres and services.
MINI-BUS taxi operators will be rewarded for excellence through a new programme that will see the eThekwini Municipality monitoring their moves. The taxi incentive programme, Moja Cruise according to Mayor Zandile Gumede is aimed at supporting the operators and celebrating the role of the mini-bus taxi industry in the delivery of public transport in South Africa. Gumede lauded taxi operators saying they played an ‘important historical role in public transport’.
“As we usher in a new era for public transport, we assure you that as government, we are walking side-by-side with you in creating solutions to the challenges that you face,” she said to about 550 people including representatives of mini-bus taxi industry, politicians and City officials.
“We have and will continue to engage with the leadership of the industry, to develop a way in which operations can be improved and eventually incorporated within the new system,” she added.
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Moja Cruise has been created as a voluntary programme which will begin as a pilot or test case in about four to to eight weeks time, with an expected 500 taxis initially enrolled. These taxis will be branded and easily identifiable as participants within the programme, and will include taxis from all associations within the eThekwini Municipality.
Devised to improve operators’ businesses through better services to the commuters, and drivers rewarded for excellence, Moja Cruise will focus on providing an efficient, friendly and safe experience for customers.
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Vehicles will be tracked and commuters will eventually be asked to rate their experiences. This will all feed into a system, which rewards the drivers and operators for excellence on a monthly basis.
Going forward, the City plans to develop public-private partnerships to support a bigger rewards programme which will help add value to the business operations of the taxis such as discounts on tyres, services and insurance, amongst others.
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