The long-delayed taxi recapitalisation programme will be implemented from the beginning of the 2005/06 financial year, Minister of Transport Jeff Radebe announced in Pretoria on Thursday.
Costing the government an estimated R7,7-billion, the recapitalisation programme — first proposed in 1999 — will replace the country’s ageing taxi fleet, estimated at 97 000 vehicles.
Radebe said the initial idea — that automobile companies would tender for the manufacture of specific vehicles — had proved too costly for both the government and the commuters, and was therefore scrapped.
”No, we are not going to be asking for more tenders,” said Radebe, explaining that the decision on what vehicle to purchase will now lie with individual operators, depending on their requirements.
He said the government will pay R50 000 for each old taxi in an attempt to help taxi operators upgrade their fleets.
Radebe said, however, that specifications relating to safety and seating capacities will have to be followed when the new vehicles are purchased.
He said an electronic management system, designed to help regulate the industry, will also be introduced. It had previously been scrapped along with the tender proposal for being too costly.
”We will move immediately to put in place the necessary infrastructure and proceed with the roll-out of the programme in the second half of 2005. Implementation will take place in a phased manner over a seven-year programme,” he said, explaining that the oldest taxis will be replaced first.
Radebe warned that the roll-out will be conducted along with strict law-enforcement procedures that will ensure unsafe vehicles are removed from the road.
Tom Muofhe, president of the South African National Taxi Council, told reporters that all the taxi unions are behind the recapitalisation process.
The process was in the past delayed when taxi operators in KwaZulu-Natal revolted against the plan.
”But that was as a result of misunderstanding government’s role,” said Muofhe, stating that the province now fully backs the plan.
The industry carries almost 68% of the country’s commuters on a daily basis, but the first real test of the programme’s success will be to see how it copes with the 2010 Soccer World Cup, Radebe concluded. — Sapa