Imbizo to look at ways of improving the industry's performance…

Taxi Imbizo to chart the way forward

A major imbizo for the taxi industry will be staged in KwaZulu Natal to look at ways government and taxi operators can improve the performance of the industry in the province, MEC for Transport, Safety and Security, Mr Bheki Cele told employees and stakeholders of his Department recently.

Mr Cele said it was encouraging to note that the country's national Minister of Transport, Mr Jeff Radebe, was repeatedly referring to the move to introduce government subsidies for taxi operators to boost their resource base as business entrepreneurs, employers and service providers who are expected provide a safe, reliable and affordable transport service.

Referring to business opportunities which the taxi industry is poised to enjoy following the 2010 bid victory, Mr Cele said failure to resolve challenges of the taxi industry peacefully could have bad consequences for the many visitors who are expected to use taxis when they come to visit the country.

"You will end up killing foreign soccer fans if you are going to see a taxi from Port Shepstone transporting people to see a soccer match in Pietermaritzburg because you are always afraid that someone is poaching commuters from your route," he said.

Mr Cele said his Department was hoping that the Imbizo will assist to bring solutions to challenges facing the industry. The Imbizo will also chart the way forward on pertinent issues like government subsidies and revisit the envisaged future roll out of the taxi recapitalization programme.

Mr Cele said the Imbizo must explore opportunities for members of the taxi industry to invest in other sectors of the economy including buses, freight, air transport as well as taking their taxis to work in other parts of Africa where there is a big demand for public transport services.

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