MEC moots restrictions on taxi industry

The KwaZulu-Natal department of Transport wants motor (taxi) dealerships to stop selling taxis without evidence that a taxi has been allocated a permit to operate on the country’s roads.

Department MEC Sboniso Duma said they were concerned about the influx of illegal taxi operators which has often led to clashes.

He was speaking at the provincial legislature on Thursday where he tabled the budget for the department.

The department tabled a budget of R13 billion for this financial year, it detailed its priorities including building new roads, maintaining the current ones and boosting law enforcement. It revealed that the department requires billions for maintenance and does not have the money that is required.

Duma said the taxi industry has been experiencing some worrying instability and an influx of illegal operators.

“This calls for us, as the government, to develop a framework for regulating vehicle dealerships so that they do not release vehicles without the required documentation and approval by the Provincial Regulatory Entities (PRE).

“In the last month, our team successfully mediated to end disputes over taxi routes among members of the Ulundi Mahlabathini Association and the Ikhwezi Local and Long-Distance Taxi Association in Pongola. In addition, we also intervened to end protests by taxi operators in the Ugu District.

We agreed to resolve issues raised by operators, which mainly relate to the issuing of permits.”

He addressed the issue of permits, saying there are three steps in the compliance steps in the issuing of operating permits for taxis, one of them is that the government must satisfy itself that there is work for that taxi.

He said it would not make sense that in a route where 20 taxis should be operating based on the number of passengers, the government would issue 35 permits as those taxis will not break even.

“There is a wrong perception that the department fails to issue permits on time. However, on the contrary, the Department has been able to reduce the turnaround time for the processing of operating licences following the decentralisation of the Provincial Regulatory Entity Offices (PRE) in various districts. The six new additional PRE offices are making a significant impact and improving service delivery.

“We have issued over 53 413 operating licences in the past five years.

Of those 15 541 operating licences were issued in the past financial year alone. However, we currently have 3 780 operating permits that have not been collected at PRE offices despite being approved and over 7 436 operating licenses that have expired and were not renewed,” he said.

Duma said there were over 3 468 vehicles that had had their operating license applications submitted since January 2018.

“It is, however, worrying that operators sometimes point fingers at the department when they are not sorting out issues on their end to enable them to receive their permits successfully.

However, we remain open to assisting taxi operators in ensuring they comply.”

DA MPL Riona Gokool said while the taxi industry played a crucial role in KZN’s transportation network, the government must also be brave enough to stand up to an industry whose business is entrenched in society through violence, intimidation, harassment, bullying and being politically connected.

“KZN’S GPU must have the political will to deal with the taxi industry and give confidence and surety to all transport industry role players that our province is free and fair and that its citizens have the right to partake in this free economy. It must have the political will to say ‘enough is enough’ to the taxi industry and those who have intimidated private transport, scholar transport, bus services and rail services,” she said.

ANC MPL Mafika Mndebele said the MEC’s efforts to engage with taxi associations and taxi association Santaco to ensure peace and stability were a breath of fresh air.

“The attention being given by the MEC to the issue of operating licences is also welcomed.”

The Mercury