JOINT ANNOUNCEMENT BETWEEN THE KWAZULU-NATAL DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT AND THE KWAZULU-NATAL CONCERNED TAXI COMMITTEE

Intense discussions have been held between the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport and the KwaZulu-Natal Concerned Taxi Operators’ Committee to iron out issues of concern to both sides.

We want to express our appreciation at the seriousness with which each side approached the discussion. Both sides have re-confirmed our commitment to safeguard the safety of the travelling public and to ensuring the smooth running of all social services.

A breakthrough has been reached between the Department of Transport led by MEC Mr S’bu Ndebele and the Concerned Taxi Operators Committee led by Mr Mdu Xaba and Mr Xolani Sibisi who were accompanied by the whole Committee of Concern.

In particular we have reached a clear understanding on the normal enforcement by the Road Traffic Inspectorate on the following:

1. All taxi drivers to possess and carry drivers’ licence at all times;

2. All taxi drivers to be in possession of the Professional Drivers’ Permit and be able to produce it at all times;

3. All taxis to be in a roadworthy condition and to display a Certificate of Roadworthiness;

4. All operators who are already in the Clean-Up process will be granted an Interim Operating Authority and that will be prominently displayed with immediate effect. Taxis in KwaZulu-Natal will either have a Route-based permit or an Operating Authority. A taxi without those will be regarded as illegal. By the 14^th of December 2 002 all taxis in KwaZulu-Natal should be legal.

The MEC for Transport Mr S’bu Ndebele has signed regulations which will effect this accelerated formalisation process. These measures will also be communicated to the KwaZulu-Natal Taxi Council and other stakeholders. Our message is simple; we want peace, democracy and stability in the taxi industry. The measures that have been taken to reach this understanding are part and parcel of creating a mutually binding law enforcement mechanism. The taxi industry in KwaZulu-Natal and indeed the whole of South Africa has been democratised but for proper legalization to take place there must be law enforcement because we are dealing with people’s lives. As our agreement shows, we do believe that law enforcement is the answer. If it is not the answer then there is no answer at all.

The agreement we have reached today will ensure the establishment of a peaceful, prosperous, and democratic Taxi industry.

Signed at Pietermaritzburg on the 29^th of November of 2002.

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