The minibus taxi industry has negotiated substantial compromises in the government’s programme to replace its ageing fleet and enforce at least minimal control over the unruly business.
Minister of Transport Dullah Omar dropped details of the compromise plan negotiated with the South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) this week.
The new era begins next year when the 18- and 35-seat vehicles start replacing traditional minibuses.
The programme will pay registered taxi owners a scrapping fee for their old minibuses. They can then use the money as part payment for a new vehicle from a chosen manufacturer.
DaimlerChrysler, Iveco, Afinta Motor Corporation, GAZ Joint Stock Company, Kwoon Chung Mudan Automobile and Tata are on the shortlist to supply the new vehicles, but the government has not yet chosen the official manufacturer.
Santaco says the renegotiated plan will allow taxi owners to buy any vehicle that meets standards set for the new vehicles.
By 2004 all taxis will have to comply with basic safety features. The second deadline in 2006 requires taxis to have the features required of new-generation vehicles, including higher safety standards and compliance with the smartcard payment system. Previously the operators had been told they would only be allowed to use vehicles from the company that won the government tender.
”Because of all the delays in pushing recapitalisation through, the dates may be postponed,” says Santaco spokesperson Mike Mabasa.
Taxi operators will not have to invest in new vehicles when the programme begins. The plan will be implemented in phases that target older taxis first. In the first phase 85 000 vehicles will be replaced.
Owners have been unhappy with the tardy pace of the programme. They say it has taken so long to implement that their fleets are becoming obsolete.
Santaco, which has highlighted the problem, will now help control the process in partnership with the government. The council will also effectively manage the smartcard system.
Most taxi operators have accepted the government’s transformation programme, but cracks are appearing in the alliance.
Jerry Makokoane, deputy director general of the Department of Transport, says the government has involved the whole taxi industry through Santaco. But Sicelo Maboso, chairperson of the Top 6 taxi association and the National Taxi Alliance, says it has not been clear sailing for Santaco’s partners.
”We are not against the recapitalisation process or the transformation of the industry,” Maboso says. ”The government must give us the price of these [new] vehicles for us to assess the reasonableness of the offer. We also need more information about subsidies.”
Maboso says operators signed an agreement with Santaco, ”but we feel we’re now only needed for the sake of unity in the industry”.
He says the formalisation programme, which will register all taxis and grant them permits only for set routes, is one of the main problems in transforming the industry.
”The government has not yet finished with registration and handing out permits. That is not acceptable.”