The Department of Transport is committed to the introduction of a nationwide, integrated fare-collection system that would include the taxi industry in the taxi-industry subsidy net, Minister of Transport Jeff Radebe reported on Tuesday.
Democratic Alliance MP MM Swathe asked — in a written question — whether his department would investigate the method of subsidising the taxi industry through a multi-ticketing system rather than subsidising only bus and rail transport.
Radebe said the ticketing system is included in the department’s 2006-to-2009 strategic plan. ”This will go so far as to also ensure equitable and universal access to public transport,” he noted.
The department is currently finalising the norms and standards for the electronic management system (EMS). ”Once the norms and standards have been finalised, the public-transport service providers would be able to engage multi-ticketing institutions to negotiate strategic partnership to provide and run the service along the published norms and standards,” the minister said.
The introduction of the EMS technology that promotes what the minister dubbed modal-integration will ensure that the taxi industry participates in the public-transport subsidy.
”The formalisation and regulation of the taxi industry are essential requirements for the taxi industry to participate in the subsidy regime so that government is in a position to monitor the subsidy granted under the public-transport allocation.
”In spite of the above, it is important to note that the taxi industry in the Lenasia area is already taking part in the public-transport system and, in the near future, taxis in the Mangaung area in the Free State would also take part in the public-transport subsidy,” he said. — I-Net Bridge