‘We are the unwanted kids of taxi industry’
The National Taxi Alliance (NTA) said they are upset because it seems the Department of Transport isn't addressing the grievance they have reported.
POLOKWANE – Comfort Lekgothoane, on behalf of NTA, stated the grievances have resulted in drivers being unable to enjoy the quality of life they could have within the taxi industry.
He raised the fact that South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) receives R7 million subsidy from government but NTA doesn’t have any form of financial support.
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“We are like the unwanted kids of the taxi industry.
“We fully understand that Santaco was founded before NTA but we are all serving the same purpose now. We also need the financial back-up to make things easier for us,” he said.
Another problem they experience is with regard to how difficult it is to receive operating licences, which results in exorbitant amounts charged for the release of impounded vehicles.
“Before 1994, taxis had infinity permits which made it easier for them to work. In Limpopo, it costs them R11 000 to get a vehicle out of impound but in Gauteng, they say it costs R2 500 which leads me to question if South Africa has become a federal state,” Lekgothoane added.
Matome Moremi, Roads and Traffic Spokesperson, said the Provincial Regulatory Entity (PRE) can only consider the issuing of operating licences if a local municipality’s transport plan shows a need for additional public transport services.
The official and legal basis for determining the need for new licences is the information from the municipality’s Integrated Transport Plan (ITP).
“The department will embark on a process from the 2018/19 financial year to assess all public transport routes and operating licences in the province to determine the supply and the demand for public transport services.
“The outcome of the assessment will guide the PRE in terms of the adjudication of new operating licence applications,” Moremi explained.
He added funding cannot be considered in the absence of a national Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between government and the taxi industry.
In April 2001, a MOU was signed between three formations of the taxi industry namely Sataco, the Provincial Taxi Councils (Protaco), NTA and the Provincial and National Government.
All parties committed themselves to bring about lasting unity within the minibus taxi industry on the basis of transparency, integrity and the establishment of a united body representing the industry on a democratic basis.
Santaco was then formed as the united body representing the industry. “That MOU is still in place and has not been repealed or replaced by another agreement between government and the taxi industry hence Santaco is recognised as the united body of the three formations.
“There is no agreement between government and NTA,” Moremi added.
