Weigh in on South Africa’s Taxis at New Public Forum

A public forum has been launched to get taxi operators, drivers and civil society to engage with government on a plan to regulate the taxi industry.

Taxis often come in for much criticism for disobeying the rules of the road, unlicensed drivers, and violence. So there will be lots to talk about from the public’s side.

“The launch of this public discourse platform is an invitation to the taxi industry, workers, commuters and the rest of civil society to engage with the discussion documents and take the opportunity to participate in formulating the blueprint for a taxi industry of the future,” Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula said at the launch of the National Taxi Lekgotla. The public forum, he said, would allow stakeholders and the civilians to contribute to the solutions.

The subjects that will be opened for discussion from October are: unity and leadership; industry regulation; industry empowerment; professionalisation; road safety; customer service and commuter safety; as well as Gender Based Violence.

Discussions about regulations would primarily revolve around operating licences and law enforcement.

“The challenges experienced over the years relating to the issuing of operating licences, which includes challenges of no responsiveness of municipalities to applications resulting in saturation of routes as these operating licences are issued without due regard to transport planning.

The discussions will also look at strong disincentives aimed at those who operate illegally with penalties that include monetary penalties, impoundment of vehicles, suspension of drivers’ licences or a combination of measures.

He also said the prevalence of gender-based violence in the taxi industry remained a source of serious concern.

“This discussion has been muted for too long and it is time it is confronted head-on, and active measures must be put in place to address this decisively.

“Such measures must also include safety of women and children in the taxi environment, with particular emphasis on the girl child,” he said.

– Additional reporting by SAnews.gov.za