MEDIA STATEMENT

MPUMALANGA AND PINETOWN TAXI ASSOCIATIONS RESUME OPERATIONS

KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison Mr. Bheki Cele has lifted the ban imposed on operations of the Pinetown and Mpumalanga taxi associations as of today.

Addressing the media at a briefing at Shongweni near Durban this morning, where the respective chairpersons and other representatives from the two associations were also present, Cele said, "It is my pleasure today to announce that indeed the Mpumalanga and Pinetown taxi associations have reached consensus on the topical taxi dispute that we are all aware of. It is my pleasure to also report that as the executing authority responsible for transport, community safety and liaison in this province, I am satisfied that the consensus reached by the two taxi associations is an amicable one. I am therefore pleased to announce that as government, we are lifting the ban on all operations of these taxi associations as from 6 March 2005."

"As government we are on record to reiterate the fact that we want a safe, efficient, regulated and transformed taxi industry so as to improve the quality of lives of our people. As government, we are on record to say that the taxi industry cannot be allowed to be reduced to a battlefield where innocent lives are lost. As government, we are on record to say that we won’t stop short of utilizing all the powers that we have to deter any untenable situation that threatens peace in this province and in South Africa as a whole," Cele added.

On 28 January 2005, Cele appointed a tribunal to hear evidence and decide on the dispute between the Mpumalanga and Pinetown taxi associations. This was done in terms of the KZN Interim Minibus Taxi Act.

The tribunal sat from the 3rd to 5th February 2005 and thereafter ruled as follows:

1. They recognized that both associations have the right to use the route in dispute.
2. The Board should suspend permits of individual members of both associations.
3. The Registrar should suspend route permits of both taxi associations.
4. Both associations must within three months find a solution, after which the suspension will be lifted.
5. A solution may be found earlier than three months.
6. Failure to find an amicable solution will lead to permanent deregistration of individual and taxi association permits.

On 9 February 2005, the Registrar served notice to both associations to suspend permits.

On 14 February 2005, Cele held a media briefing where he announced the suspension of individual permits and taxi associations’ permits. He further announced the conditions attached thereto.

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