Two years after the government passed a law forcing taxi operators to buy new vehicles, it has still not chosen the models they will be compelled to buy.
The programme to recapitalise South Africa’s taxi fleet envisions safer transport for the 62% of commuters who use taxis. The country’s taxi fleet will be replaced with new 18- and 35-seat vehicles and the sector will be brought into the formal economy by regulating the drivers’ labour conditions and the payment of fares.
But the government’s partners are running out of patience. The South African National Taxi Council (Santaco), a group of taxi interests set up 18 months ago as their national representative, says it wants to run the process because the government is taking too long to implement reforms.
At the launch of a taxi-driver education programme last week, Jeremy Cronin, chairperson of Parliament’s transport committee, advised the taxi industry to ”start shaking the trees”.
”There is an election coming up and we have to remind the politicians about their promises,” he said. ”The taxi industry is still in crisis and we cannot afford to run away from this. There is still a lack of investment and [there is] underdevelopment,” Cronin said.
He joked about taxi recapitalisation as a carrot the industry keeps running after. ”But the carrot is tied to a stick and the industry never gets any closer: there always seems to be a period of waiting involved.”
Thomas Muofhe, president of Santaco, said he is disappointed with the pace of the recapitalisation programme. ”We have complained that the recapitalisation process has still not been implemented,” he said. ”Our members have been patient too long in the face of unacceptable delays and uncertainty.”
Acting Minister of Transport Jeff Radebe said in February that the first new-style taxis would be on the roads towards the end of June. Their manufacturer has not even been chosen.
The eight manufacturers bidding to provide the preferred vehicles are waiting to hear who will receive the multimillion-rand contract to supply the new taxi fleet.
Ndivhuwo Mabaya, spokesperson for the transport department, said the taxi recapitalisation programme’s progress will be much clearer after the minister’s budget speech on June 9. He said it would be premature for him to elaborate at this stage.
He said media reports about the government’s bad relationship with Santaco do not reflect the whole truth. Santaco represents the industry in all discussions with the national government.
”We do not have a bad relationship with Santaco. We are not fighting. We only differ on certain issues, as happens in most working relationships,” he said.
Top Six Taxi Management, which represents about 8 000 operators, this week invested in about 20 old-style 16-seater taxis because the 18-seater vehicles are still unavailable.
Molefe Rapodile, a spokesperson, said the taxi recapitalisation programme is taking too long to implement and owners have to replace unroadworthy vehicles to stay in business.
Mabaya said his department does not condemn Top Six’s action.
”Any operator who feels his fleet is unsafe may buy new taxis that comply with the safety specifications of the taxi recapitalisation programme,” he said.
Taxis that do not comply with safety regulations will be impounded.