24 February 2007
Members of the Executive Council
MEC for Roads & Transport Cde Justice Pitso
Members of the Transport Fraternity
SANTACO leadership present here today
The Limpopo Provincial Taxi Council
Councillors from other Provinces
The leadership of the entire taxi industry
Distinguished Guests
Members of the Media
Ladies and Gentlemen
Today marks a milestone in the history of the taxi industry in Limpopo and
throughout the country. It really pleases me to welcome this province into the
fold of others who are saying YES – to the recapitalization program in our
country. Many years of dedication to the Taxi Recapitalization Program are now
paying off as we gather here to scrap Old Taxi Vehicles and to launch New Taxi
Vehicles approved by the South African National Standards (SANS) formally South
African Bureau of Standards.
As many of you shall witness during the TRP, the program is not only about
scrapping old taxis and buying new ones but it forms part of Government’s broad
public transport strategy of developing Integrated Transport Plans at provincial
and local levels. It will also ensure that the taxi industry participates
broadly in our vision of an integrated public transport system whereby trains,
buses, and taxis compliment a network of an effective and efficient transport
system.
Today Limpopo will be the seventh Province to scrap Old Taxi Vehicles and I must
comment all Transport MECs in the nine provinces who are making considerable
progress in making sure that the TRP becomes a success.
Scrapping sites for each province have been identified for the main centres. The
sites in KwaZulu-Natal, Free State, Northern Cape, Eastern Cape, Western Cape
and Mpumalanga are fully operational.
Applications are being accepted at the sites, payments to the concerned
operators are being made and the scrapping of vehicles is taking place. Those
sites that are not fully operational are accepting and processing applications.
I am urging all taxi operators to take advantage of these developments so that
our program moves with speed.
I must mention that Limpopo is among the provinces that have been doing well in
coordinating TRP processes. I am reliably informed that this Province is upbeat
about the scrapping process and that much consultation has been done. I want to
appreciate the work being done by the Provincial Scrapping Team, which consists
of SANTACO members, the Provincial Taxi Council; TSA as well as the Provincial
Government officials. I am told that over 8 000 operators have been issued with
operating licenses by the Limpopo Provincial Operating Licenses Board and
therefore stand in line to take active participation in the Recap Program. This
number comes from all the seven taxi districts of Limpopo, which includes Moutse.
I want to acknowledge and thank the people of Moutse for having realized the
importance of scrapping here in Limpopo.
It is encouraging that over 556 taxi operators have registered for the scrapping
of their old taxi vehicles. Nationally there is overwhelming support for
ensuring legal operations and as of today more than 98 000 applications for
conversion have been processed.
The buy in by the entire taxi industry is an indication that our people realize
the importance of the TRP process and the benefits that go along with removing
old taxis from our roads. As Government we take the safety of commuters very
seriously and the new development within our taxi industry is a plus to our
commitment to save lives.
The recap program will in the near future enhance the taxi industry in
participating in the overall subsidized network of our public transport system
and this will boost the taxi industry and elevate businessmen and women thereby
contributing to the country’s economic growth and prosperity.
The Limpopo Province is joining the process of recap without any doubt and we
are not afraid of the unknown and this makes our plans as Government very easy
to implement this program of eradicating disorder in the entire taxi industry. I
want to appeal to SANTACO to continue conducting road shows that are geared at
strengthening our resolve for a better taxi industry. We are in the same breath
appealing to our brothers and sisters in the NTA to follow suit.
Ladies and gentlemen, I want to emphasize that advances in the economy have
sparked up major challenges for our sectors of the economy. The increased
consumer demand in safe, comfortable, effective and sustainable transport
services is a reflection that our economy requires a balanced relationship for
economic clusters to pool their resources together. Transport is part of the
economic clusters that encompass energy, infrastructure, telecommunications,
manufacturing and engineering.
The Department of Transport is determined to:
Having said that, I will also emphasise that sustainable and effective transport
services and infrastructure are critical to the contribution of increased
investment and reducing the cost of doing business.
My Department is therefore determined to move earnestly with a comprehensive
public transport system aimed at improving the lives of the people. I must
embrace all taxi operators who are working closely with Government, South
African National Standards (SANS) National Automobile Association Manufacturers
of South Africa (NAAMSA) and Provincial Transport MECS and Departments. Please
let me urge all of you to give each other the necessary support so that we can
attain positive results out of the TRP.
In conclusion Program Director, allow me to thank MEC Justice Pitso as well as
all MECs for Roads & Transport in the Provinces for their sterling leadership in
steering this program of changing the lives of taxi operators and commuters for
the better. The scrapping of Old Taxi Vehicles in Limpopo should bring joy and
happiness to all South Africans and the “ Dikororo” on our roads should be
something of the past.
It is thus my honour and privilege to declare the scrapping of OTVs in Limpopo
and to officially launch the NTVs and may the hammer begin!!!
I THANK YOU!