Western Cape Government welcomes steps to resolve impounding of tour operators’ vehicles
Joint Media release by Ricardo Mackenzie, Western Cape Minister of Mobility and Mireille Wenger, Western Cape Minister of Finance and Economic Opportunities
The Western Cape Government welcomes the resolution, signed and shared with all provincial MEC’s of Transport, by Transport Minister, Sindisiwe Chikunga, which states that law enforcement should stop penalising tour operators who have applied for license renewals and those who are still awaiting their renewed licenses, as a result of backlogs, from the Department of Transport.
Minister Chikunga recently announced a decision taken in a meeting between the national Minster and provincial Ministers to call on law enforcement officers to correctly interpret Regulation 25(2) of the National Land Transport Regulations and desist from the inconvenience resulting from impounding vehicles whose operators have rightfully applied for renewals.
The Mobility Department has on several occasions written to the national Department of Transport, requesting a review of the section 26 agreement between the National Public Transport Regulator (NPRT) and the Western Cape Provincial Regulatory Entity (PRE) in respect of the regulation of Tourist Transport Services.
The Western Cape PRE is currently still performing the functions of the NPTR in terms of Regulations 46 and 47 of the National Land Transport Regulations (2009) insofar as interprovincial transport services are concerned. Section 26 of the NLTA also makes provision for regulatory entities to agree that one of them will perform the functions of another, either temporarily or permanently.
The province maintains a good relationship with the NPTR, which has allowed the necessary processes to be put in place to provide input to the NPTR in respect of tourist transport services. The NPTR has also provided immediate responses to our enquiries on pending applications.
Western Cape Minister of Mobility, Ricardo Mackenzie, said: “We have received a number of complaints from tourist transport operators trading in the Western Cape about an application backlog at the NPTR in respect of the licensing and accreditation of tourist transport operators. Many of these operators are providing services with a new application/replacement of vehicle receipt. This has come to light during law enforcement operations. They claim to have submitted applications to the NPTR some time ago and same are still pending well outside of the legislated 60-day period.”
“This type of practice makes the enforcement of the public transport system exceedingly difficult. It is our understanding that the NPTR is properly constituted and that all backlog applications have been disposed of. The Western Cape PRE stands ready to assist as needed.” said provincial Minister Mackenzie.
Western Cape Minister of Finance and Economic Opportunities, Mireille Wenger, said: “Far too many times I have received calls for help from tour operators who have had their vehicles impounded, and tourists abandoned on the side of the road. So, I warmly welcome the steps taken to resolve this issue. Tour operators are an important component of the tourism industry which contributes significantly to both the national and provincial economy, creating thousands of much needed jobs. The Western Cape Government will continue to work with all spheres of government to break down barriers to the growth of this vital industry so we can help unlock higher levels of economic growth that we need to create many more employment opportunities.”
Media queries:
Ntomboxolo Makoba-Somdaka
Cell: 082 953 0026
Email: Ntomboxolo.Makoba-Somdaka@westerncape.gov.za