MEC for Cooperative Governance Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs; and Transport, Safety and Liaison, Bentley Vass, together with the HOD for Transport, Safety and Liaison, Rodney Pieterse, held a meeting with the provincial representatives of the South African National Council and the National Association. The purpose of the meeting was to unpack challenges found within the taxi industry as well as to explore potential solutions to improve the overall efficiency and safety of public transportation.
During the discussions, key issues such as regulatory compliance, road safety and the financial sustainability of taxi operators, the mushrooming of illegal permits, decentralising of licensing satellite offices and operating of the Provincial Regulatory Entity were highlighted.
Representatives from the South African National Council and the National Association, both raised their challenges on routes that are used, the duration it takes to issue out operating licenses, the lack of effort put in by the law enforcement on mushrooming of illegal operators and the bus subsidies have been done, this includes cleaning up the system gazetting for all 4000 plus license applications.
The HOD emphasised the importance of working collaboratively with all stakeholders to ensure that the industry not meets the needs of commuters but also provides a viable livelihood for those involved. The HOD also put an emphasis on the local authorities implementing laws at the taxi ranks and local roads in general.
The MEC underscored the commitment of the provincial government to address these challenges through a multifaceted approach that includes the involvement of all stakeholders, enhanced enforcement of existing regulations and support for innovative initiatives aimed at modernizing the taxi sector. The MEC also expressed their willingness to engage in an on-going dialogue and contribute to a shared vision for a safer, more efficient public transport system.
The MEC concluded the meeting with a commitment to have a meeting with the Provincial Regulatory Entity to tackle some of the issues raised more especially on their engagements with the taxi operators and their visibility. In his closing remarks the MEC said, “It is a blessing that COGHTSA and TSL were merged because it will be easy to tackle most issues raised, as we have all stakeholders under one roof”.
This collaborative effort is seen as a crucial step towards creating a more organized and reliable transportation network, thereby improving the quality of life for residents across the province.
