Media release by Daylin Mitchell Western Cape Minister of Mobility
Last week SANTACO Western Cape announced that it will go on a two-day strike. The strike was called in response to the Western Cape Government’s decision to wind down the highly successful Blue Dot Taxi Pilot Programme due to budget constraints. The minibus taxi industry has called for a provincial shutdown on Monday and Tuesday, 21 and 22 November 2022.
This strike effectively penalises the one province that piloted a unique programme to provide support to the minibus taxi industry and improve the quality of service. This pilot programme was developed in consultation with minibus taxi industry leaders who have always been aware that the project was a provincial pilot that could only be continued with the necessary financial support from the national fiscus. The impact will most keenly be felt by commuters who do not have their own personal modes of transport, including workers from disadvantaged communities, and learners who are currently writing their final exams for the 2022 academic year.
While I understand and share the leadership’s concerns, I requested these office bearers to call off the planned shutdown. Any shutdown of minibus taxi services will have a devastating effect on the Western Cape. The minibus taxi industry plays a critical role in the economy of the Western Cape and in the lives of our citizens, transporting two million passengers daily and accounting for 75% of all public transport trips.
Given the above and the serious economic challenges we face as a province and as nation, we cannot afford for the industry to cease operations, even for a day. This is particularly important at a time when Grade 12 learners are writing their exams, which simply should not be disrupted. If these learners cannot finish their exams, they can only rewrite in May/ June 2023 which will effectively put their lives on hold for almost a year. The impact of this strike will be felt most by the poorest learners who do not have access to alternative modes of transport. The uncertainty also places unnecessary stress and pressure on the close to 33 000 matric candidates writing on Monday and over 27 000 candidates writing on Tuesday. This stress and pressure is something that matric candidates should not have to carry. I am grateful to the Western Cape Education Department which has put contingency plans in place, but we should not be negotiating using matriculants from disadvantaged communities as bargaining chips.
I wish to remind the minibus industry that while other provinces shrugged their shoulders during the pandemic, it was the Western Cape that launched the Red Dot and Red Dot Lite programmes during COVID-19. These programmes used the minibus industry to transport medical staff to and from work and citizens who were unable to quarantine themselves from quarantine and isolation facilities. This stimulated the industry while elsewhere in the country there was nothing.
It was this province that when calls were made for the formalisation of the industry, did not just hold talk shops and lekgotlas, but put plans into action and invested R215m into this pilot project which included an additional R70m to the original project budget.
I further wish to remind the industry that we always said this was a pilot programme. Yes, the pilot proved successful, but now money is needed to make it a full programme; money which we believe must come from the national fiscus.
The entire country is under immense fiscal pressure. If we had the money, the project would have continued. The Western Cape Government must, however, also do many other things including building and maintaining hospitals and clinics, schools, roads, safety programmes and the provision of social support. Striking will not change the fact that finances are limited. The only thing the strike will achieve is to further disadvantage the people who are already disadvantaged.
It is my belief that both I and the industry have the passengers’ best interests at heart. I encourage the stakeholders in the minibus taxi industry to avoid taking any action which would deprive ordinary people of the public transport they need to access opportunities.
I will not hesitate to use all mechanisms at my disposal as Provincial Minister of Mobility to restore calm should the matter escalate. My first priority remains the safety and dignity of the people of the Western Cape. Should operators make themselves guilty of criminal and violent behaviour, disciplinary steps will be taken which could include suspension and even revoking of operating licences.
I reiterate my call to the industry to think of the passenger and call off their planned shutdown so as not to disadvantage the very people whose lives we are trying to improve through dignified and safe public transport.
Media Enquiries
Jandré Bakker
Deputy Director: Departmental Communication
Department of Transport and Public Works
Email: Jandre.Bakker@westerncape.gov.za