Government Committed to Working with All Representatives of the Mini-Bus Taxi Industry

National Department of Transport and the City of Cape Town met today with representatives of the Western Cape National Taxi Alliance (WC-NTA). The meeting is part of government's commitment to engage with all representatives of the industry over issues affecting the mini-bus taxi industry.

Speaking at the opening of the meeting, the Deputy Director-General for Transport, Mr. George Mahlalea, said, "Government is committed to engaging with all representatives of the public transport industry. We want to provide a public transport system that is focused on the needs of the customer through the provision of a safe reliable and accessible public transport system, as well as creating a prosperous environment for public transport service providers."

This meeting comes after many meetings between the City and the Mayor with the WC-NTA, where the City has sought to address the concerns of the WC-NTA, while also taking into consideration the interests of the broader minibus-taxi industry and the public.

Engagement with the existing public transport industry is taking place at all three spheres of government. At the national sphere, engagement with the industry is proceeding through the National Public Transport Working Group, chaired by the Minister of Transport.

At Provincial level both the City and Province are engaging with the industry through their representative bodies such as the Western Cape Provincial Taxi Council. At local level the City of Cape Town is engaging directly affected mini-bus taxi and scheduled bus operators.

Directly affected operators are those operators whose services will be replaced and upgraded as part of the City's implementation of phase 1a of the Integrated Rapid Transit System.

The meeting discussed the concerns over the issuing of permits and licenses; warrants of arrest issued to taxi operators regarding licence-related traffic offences; and the use of converted panel vans for public transport.

The meeting agreed that the WC-NTA would participate in a detailed presentation on the roll-out of the Integrated Rapid Transit system during next week. This presentation will allow the WC-NTA to inform them about the IRT in order that they can engage the City on its implementation in a constructive manner.

As part of the agreements reached prior to the meeting, the WC-NTA provided government representatives with a list of taxi operators who have applied for permits and not been issued with a permit, as well as a list of operators who own panel vans that have been converted. In return government committed to investigate the circumstances of the persons for whom adequate information has been provided and make possible proposals for dealing with these issues.

With regard to the warrants issued against taxi operators the City of Cape Town has agreed to facilitate a meeting between the WC-NTA and the National Prosecuting Authority, as the issuing of warrants falls within the latter's jurisdiction.

As part of government's commitment to engage with the industry a task team has been established with representatives of the WC-NTA and participants from all three spheres of government. The purpose of the task team is to discuss issues of mutual concern and agree on, solutions.

Councillor Elizabeth Thompson, Mayoral Committee Member for Transport, Roads and Stormwater in the City of Cape Town, said: "I am optimistic about the progress of engagement between Government and the minibus taxi industry. We look forward to a solution favourable to both parties for the sake of the commuters."

Issued by:
Communication Department
City of Cape Town