POLOKWANE – The organisation together with the help from the Department of Transport and the government aims to help independent taxi operators to stay in business by ensuring there is an active office open to acquire driving permits.
The National Land Transport Act, Act 5 of 2009 states that no person may operate a road-based public transport service, unless he or she is the holder of an operating licence issued for the vehicle concerned with the act.
“We did not acquire these jobs or professions from school, but out of passion and love for helping the community. This is why we need the department and the government to work with us and help us by granting us the permits we need,” said Matsobane Comfort Lekgoathoane, Chairperson of the Limpopo National Taxi Alliance.
“It is a sad reality that the majority of independent taxi operators operate without valid permits. We want to work to decrease unemployment and poverty in the province. The taxi industry is the most active form of transportation in our communities but we are forced to work under pressure and in fear of our vehicles getting impounded as a result of not having valid driving permits,” he explained.
BONUS spoke to the spokesperson for the Department of Transport, Matome Moremi, regarding the issuing of new route-based operating licences in the province. Read more in this week’s Bonus.
