Municipalities are to take control of taxi ranks and their management, as some taxi associations have taken to charging operators for using them, Minister of Transport Jeff Radebe told journalists on Monday.
Speaking from the Union Buildings in Pretoria, Radebe said municipalities are already the legal owners of taxi ranks but some taxi operators are being charged by taxi associations when they seek to use the ranks.
”Taxi ranks and routes will no longer be under the control of taxi associations and/or bodies. The financial contribution of members to associations will also be scrutinised,” Radebe said.
He said the government has committed R2,5-billion over the next five years to increase its capacity to enforce public-transport laws.
The law-enforcement strategy includes the strengthening of existing public-transport law-enforcement units in the various provinces by June next year and establishing such units where necessary.
The Cabinet has approved a detailed strategy for the roll-out of the taxi recapitalisation programme (TRP) over the next 18 months, Radebe said.
”In rolling out the strategy, government recognises that the sustainability of its intervention in the industry does not lie only in the scrapping of old taxi vehicles, which remains the primary and immediate goal of the TRP,” he said.
The roll-out strategy comprises the introduction of safety requirements for the new taxi vehicles, scrapping of existing vehicles, effective regulation of the taxi industry, effective law enforcement in respect of public transport, and empowerment of the taxi industry.
Among safety requirements to come into effect on January 1 next year are tamper-proof speed governors prohibiting speeds of more than 100kph, seatbelts and the use of diesel in all taxis.
Radebe said diesel will be the only fuel permitted for the new taxis, as it is fuel-efficient and in line with government environmental policy.
”With regard to the scrapping of old taxi vehicles, government intends to remove 10 000 old and unroadworthy vehicles from our roads by December 2006,” Radebe said.
He said taxi operators who wish to leave the industry will be invited to register their intent to do so with the operating licensing boards within the next three months, with effect from August. The boards will register, evaluate and verify applications, permits and operating licences of the taxis.
”The payment of a scrapping allowance of R50 000 to taxi operators handing in their vehicles will only take place after this verification process has been completed,” said Radebe.
He urged operators with old vehicles that are ”complete wrecks” to take advantage of the window period and register their vehicles.
The verification process will prevent anyone who is not registered as a taxi operator with an operating licensing board from showing up with any old minibus and claiming the R50 000, Radebe said. — Sapa