Minibus taxi subsidies poised to boost industry’s standards and image

Thousands of youngsters who are employed by the taxi industry – especially those who work as assistants to taxi drivers (conductors), were born long after June 16, 1976.

But the symbolic importance of that day as one of those historical happenings that marked the struggle for political freedom in this country is equally important to them.

As though to honor the lives of the youths who fell on that fateful Wednesday, a couple of days before June 16, 2004, the National Council of Provinces revisited a challenging issue which may have far-reaching effects to the quality of work that is done by the taxi industry, including safer vehicles and improved working conditions for workers.

National Transport Minister Jeff Radebe has asked his Department to "review the public transport subsidy system would include the subsidization of minibus taxis."

Speaking in a policy debate in the National Council of Provinces, Radebe said his Department is obliged to ease the burden of a costly transport system to the public.

Mr Radebe said: "I have instructed the department to complete a review of the subsidy system to align it with our stated objectives as soon as possible. This will include the question of subsidization of taxis for, as you know, more than 60 percent of commuters use minibus taxis while 850 000 of the estimated two million migrant workers in this country use unsubsidized public transport."

Obviously when the taxi industry gets state subsidies, the dream of KZN Transport, Safety and Security Minister Bheki Cele will come closer to fruition. Minister Cele lives for the day when the standard of service in the industry will encourage people who own vehicles to leave them at home and use public transport.

Contrary to a world trend that sees more and more vehicle owners using public transport, the country’s democratic government has inherited a transport system that was planned by politicians and officials of the apartheid era, whose strategies encourage more people to use private vehicles, even if it is unaffordable.

According to research conducted by the national Department of Transport, once a household income rises over R30 000 per annum, car use begins to dominate.

However, provincial and national government structures in collaboration with representatives from the taxi industry are working on a long-term process of formalizing and regulating the taxi industry so that it becomes safer, reliable and affordable and the question of public transport subsidies will aid this process as taxi owners may get some relief to afford maintaining the minibus taxi fleet.

back