OPERATION SHANELA BEARING MUCH FRUIT

Since the commencement of "Operation Shanela" by the KZN Transport Department’s Public Transport Enforcement Unit (PTEU) taxi violence in the province has decreased significantly. A total of 569 public transport vehicles were impounded by the PTEU since the start of the Operation about two months ago.

Eighty nine (89) buses, 433 mini-bus taxis and 47 Toyota Ventures and bakkies have been impounded to date. One hundred and thirty four (134) persons were arrested for not being in possession of the necessary operating permits. One hundred and sixty three (163) public transport vehicles were suspended for various vehicle defects and drivers charged for 1 494 various traffic offences. Several stolen taxis have also been recovered.

Launched on the 26^th August 2002 by the MEC for Transport, Mr S’bu Ndebele, the PTEU has conducted operations in the KwaDukuza, Richmond, Escourt/Ladysmith, Highflats/Ixopo, Underberg/Bulwer, Empangeni, Port Shepstone and Kokstad/Matatiele areas.

MEC Ndebele says a safe, affordable, reliable public transport sector in South Africa is not yet in place to cater for either our domestic demands or new market opportunities. An unregulated industry is an industry that is open to abuse, corruption and coercion. Under these conditions the minibus taxi industry was:

• driven by profits from fares in which speed, reckless driving and overloading overrode concerns for the safety and comfort of passengers;

• in which there was no protection against overtrading and competition for the more profitable routes that was often settled through violence; and

• in which there were no specifications to govern the suitability of vehicles to act as safe public transport, so much so that many vehicles used for public transport can best be described as ‘coffins on wheels’.

Since 1994, the Department has achieved the following in regulating the minibus taxi industry:

• the KwaZulu-Natal Interim Minibus Taxi Act (Act 4 of 1998);

• the establishment of a Provincial Taxi Task Team;

• the opening of the Taxi Office;

• the appointment of a Taxi Registrar to co-ordinate the formalisation of the taxi industry;

• the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Taxi Violence and Related Matters;

• the election of the Provincial Taxi Council (24 April 2001);

• the National Taxi Industry Conference held at the ICC in Durban (14 September 2001);

• the launch of the Co-operative Governance Initiative to ensure public security on KwaZulu-Natal’s roads (January 2002);

• the Judicial Taxi Commission’s Enforcement Conference (April 2002);

• the formation of the PTEU (August 2002) and the launch of Operation Shanela to clean up the taxi industry in KwaZulu-Natal.

Significant progress has been made in regulating and modernising the minibus taxi industry in KwaZulu-Natal. As the transport authority in this province we are working hand in hand with KWANATACO and other public bodies including the SAPS, the SANDF, the Director of public Prosecutions, the Durban Metro Police, and local and district municipalities.

"For the most part, those involved in the minibus taxi industry have been only too happy to comply with the new regulations that will secure safer public transport. The majority of minibus taxi owners and operators do appreciate that government is assisting their industry in its growth and development", said Mr Ndebele.

"Together we must now deal with those elements in the industry that persistently ignore the will of the majority and the rule of law in our country. We have therefore developed, through the PTEU, the capacity to deal with those operators who do not comply with the law", MEC Ndebele said.

Although the public is sometimes inconvenienced by the work of the PTEU, they need to bear in mind that the more un-roadworthy public transport vehicles and unlicensed operators that are removed from our roads, the safer their lives will be.

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