The roll-out of the taxi recapitalisation project has entered “a critical stage” and the Transport Department has targeted the scrapping of “at least” 10 000 old taxi vehicles from December 2005 to December 2006, says Minister of Transport Jeff Radebe.
In reply at Parliament on Friday to African National Congress MP S Njikelana, he said the taxi vehicles targeted were those belonging to operators “who voluntarily wish to exit the taxi industry to pursue other business interests and taxi vehicles that are regarded as totally unsafe, un-roadworthy and at the most serious state of disrepair.
“The department continues to engage with the citizens of the country through commuter representative bodies to provide regular feedback and receive inputs and comments on the recapitalisation,” said Radebe.
He said that the department had set aside R10-million to market the recapitalisation plan.
The government has pledged R50 000 for each old taxi. – I-Net Bridge