Minister fails to reach taxi scrapping target
Government's aim to scrap 10 000 old taxis by the end of the year in its multi-billion-rand taxi recapitalisation programme has not been met, the department of transport said yesterday. "The target as such is not what we intended to achieve because of procedures in the scrapping process," said Sam Monareng, the department spokesperson.
Scrapping has been launched in four provinces, the Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, the Eastern Cape and the Northern Cape. Jeff Radebe, the transport minister, told taxi operators in March this year that he intended to have 10 000 of the country's oldest taxis scrapped by December. The department aims to recapitalise 85% of old taxis by 2010.
Taxi operators who voluntarily have old taxis destroyed will receive a R50 000 scrapping allowance and new safety compliant vehicles are the targeted replacements. Monareng said more than 6 000 taxi operators had volunteered to scrap their taxis but the target had not yet been met. Figures were still being collated on the number of scrapped taxis and new department-approved vehicles on the road.
Thabiso Molelekwa of the SA Taxi Council (Santaco), which supports the government process, said over 300 Santaco members had submitted vehicles in three provinces. The scrapping process launched in Bloemfontein in October showcased new minibuses including 14, 15 and 16 seaters and new midibuses with 22, 26 and 45 seats.
Alpheus Mlalazi, the National Taxi Alliance general-secretary, said the new SA Bureau of Standards certified vehicles sold for nearly double current minibus prices of R142 000. New minibuses cost between R250 000 and R300 000, he said.
While many taxis should not be on the road, the "ill-thought" process did not focus on what the taxi industry could afford, Mlalazi said. Santaco said it had also noted the increased price-tag of the new vehicles.
The council would also source cheaper vehicles that were safety compliant. The R7.7 billion recapitalisation programme aims at scrapping old taxis, introducing new and safe vehicles, industry regulation, empowerment and law enforcement. National Taxi Alliance figures were 200 000 taxis on the roads while government figures pointed to 120 000, Mlalazi said.
University of Pretoria research in 2003 found that the taxis formed 65% of all passenger trips and moved five to 10 million people a day. The industry was said to turn over R15 million daily. Read more
Scrapping has been launched in four provinces, the Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, the Eastern Cape and the Northern Cape. Jeff Radebe, the transport minister, told taxi operators in March this year that he intended to have 10 000 of the country's oldest taxis scrapped by December. The department aims to recapitalise 85% of old taxis by 2010.
Taxi operators who voluntarily have old taxis destroyed will receive a R50 000 scrapping allowance and new safety compliant vehicles are the targeted replacements. Monareng said more than 6 000 taxi operators had volunteered to scrap their taxis but the target had not yet been met. Figures were still being collated on the number of scrapped taxis and new department-approved vehicles on the road.
Thabiso Molelekwa of the SA Taxi Council (Santaco), which supports the government process, said over 300 Santaco members had submitted vehicles in three provinces. The scrapping process launched in Bloemfontein in October showcased new minibuses including 14, 15 and 16 seaters and new midibuses with 22, 26 and 45 seats.
Alpheus Mlalazi, the National Taxi Alliance general-secretary, said the new SA Bureau of Standards certified vehicles sold for nearly double current minibus prices of R142 000. New minibuses cost between R250 000 and R300 000, he said.
While many taxis should not be on the road, the "ill-thought" process did not focus on what the taxi industry could afford, Mlalazi said. Santaco said it had also noted the increased price-tag of the new vehicles.
The council would also source cheaper vehicles that were safety compliant. The R7.7 billion recapitalisation programme aims at scrapping old taxis, introducing new and safe vehicles, industry regulation, empowerment and law enforcement. National Taxi Alliance figures were 200 000 taxis on the roads while government figures pointed to 120 000, Mlalazi said.
University of Pretoria research in 2003 found that the taxis formed 65% of all passenger trips and moved five to 10 million people a day. The industry was said to turn over R15 million daily. Read more
posted by Jopie Fourie at 12:02 PM
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