The government’s R7,7-billion taxi recapitalisation project is back on track, Business Report wrote on Friday.
It said this was clear from comments by Transport Minister Jeff Radebe after he hosted an ”all-inclusive stakeholders meeting” on the project on Thursday.
Radebe said all interested parties were at the meeting and ”everything agreed was unanimous”.
He declined to give details on decisions taken, saying a joint statement would be issued on Friday.
The meeting was called amid fears that amended compulsory specifications for new taxi vehicles could derail the project. Among other things, the new specifications re-introduced rollover protection for minibus taxis. This meant extra costs for manufacturers and possible delays.
The government intends unveiling taxi vehicles that comply with the specifications next month, and aims to scrap 10 000 old taxis by the end of the year.
Items on the agenda of Thursday’s meeting included safety requirements, the scrapping of old taxis, the launching and availability of new taxi vehicles, and their financing. – Sapa