JUDICIAL TAXI COMMISSION ENFORCEMENT CONFERENCE

The Taxi Enforcement Conference that was hosted on the 21st and 22nd April 2002 by the Alexander Judicial Commission of Inquiry into taxi violence in KwaZulu-Natal has been hailed as a tremendous success.

Over the last three months the commission has been engaged in a comprehensive review of all legislation pertaining to the taxi industry.

This conference was held to ensure that all role players involved in the area of enforcement could contribute to the legislative review. The conference objective was to explore areas of concern and to make recommendations aimed at improving the effectiveness of both criminal and traffic enforcement.

Representatives included the SAPS provincial Commissioner, Commissioner Khanyile and many of his senior staff, Durban Metro Police including Director Manzi, senior Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI) personnel whose delegation was led by Director John Schnell, taxi council representatives and delegates from many of the province’s local authorities.

The commission regards the conference to have been successful judged by the committed spirit of cooperation among the delegates and concrete recommendations, which can now be transformed into practice.

Recommendations

The principal recommendations include: 

1. An industry specific enforcement body be established, which will include participants from the SAPS, RTI, Durban Metro Police, Scorpions, Directorate of Public Prosecutions and Intelligence Agencies, plus representatives from the Taxi Council.

2. It was agreed that all public-operating permits would be route based in that detailed route descriptions would be provided, thereby eliminating the prevalence of poaching along undefined routes. Such route-permits would include specific details as regards starting points, feeder points, drop off points and destinations.

3. The Taxi Council be recognized in provincial legislation (i.e.) it becomes a statutory body. This means it will have statutory obligations and powers which did not exist previously. It was further recommended that the Taxi Council play a co-coordinating role in the submission of applications to the Road Transportation Board for operating permits.

4. All public officials involved in the administration of the industry would have to have security clearance and also have no pecuniary interest in the industry. It was thought that it should constitute an offence for such officials to be financially interested in the industry.

5. All applicants for public-carrier permits would be screened by the SAPS to ensure their suitability to the industry.

6. Taxi ranks, whilst being the properties of the various municipalities, would be controlled by Public Transport Forums incorporating the interests of enforcement agencies, taxi operators, municipalities and commuters.

7. Vehicle pounds should be established in every municipality; this is to increase the present position where there are only four pounds in the province.

8. Local authorities should develop integrated transport plans dealing with the ranking and the granting of operating permits as a priority.

9. Taxi driver training be implemented with a view to ensuring that drivers qualify for a public-carrier driving licence, the attainment of which would require greater degrees of proficiency that the normal drivers’ licence requires.

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