Province, City disappointed by industry withdrawal from taxi task team

Joint media release by Western Cape Government and City of Cape Town

We are deeply disappointed that SANTACO-WC (South African National Taxi Council – Western Cape) resolved to suspend its participation in the Minibus Taxi Task Team, citing two reasons: firstly, the “increase and continuous impoundments of vehicles”, and secondly, “lack of progress on issues tabled”.

The Task Team – comprising representatives from the Western Cape Government and City of Cape Town, together with industry leadership – were due to meet on Monday for our fifth engagement. The meeting continued in order that officials could make progress with the priority issues on the Task Team’s agenda.

Western Cape Minister of Mobility Ricardo Mackenzie said, “We remain open to engagement so that we can prioritise passengers and reassure operators of our ongoing efforts to support the industry. I am especially concerned about the potential impact on commuters of this withdrawal by the industry. It comes as a shock, as we have developed a platform for robust engagement and sharing of information, while making clear progress on agreed actions. Specifically, collaborative efforts have resulted in the fast-tracking of long-awaited licence applications for the Brackengate area. Since the creation of the Task Team in February 2023, 144 positive decision letters have been handed over by our Provincial Regulatory Entity (PRE) to minibus taxi operators approving their operating licence applications.”

Minister Mackenzie continued, “We are well aware that the industry faces complex challenges, which link to the broader transportation crisis in South Africa. The Task Team was created to bring together the relevant stakeholders and work collaboratively to address key issues identified by industry and government leadership. As the Western Cape Government, we are not sitting back with a defeatist attitude, but have made a sincere attempt to tackle these issues. Regarding the impoundment of vehicles in the Cape Town metro, there are a range of reasons for this enforcement action. These reasons include moving violations, drivers with outstanding arrest warrants or operating without licences among others. The PRE has worked hard to improve its systems and streamline the processing of applications, so that where possible operating licence issues can be resolved and not become a reason for impoundment.”

“We will continue our commitment to support the minibus taxi industry and improve mobility in the Western Cape so people can get to work with safe, affordable and reliable transport,” said Minister Mackenzie.

The City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Mobility, Cllr Roberto Quintas said, ‘While we hope that SANTACO will return to the collaborative table, the fact remains that commuter safety is our core priority, and we cannot bend on matters that directly compromise safety. The vast majority of impoundments are for driver behaviour that catches the attention of law enforcement officers, and only a small percentage for the absence of an OL. Nonetheless, both Provincial and City officials have set up a dedicated support platform to assist operators with their applications. However, a process of due diligence must be applied to each application on its own merit, with safety as the overarching focus, and this naturally takes time. Simply rubber-stamping applications would make a farce of their existence.’

 ‘The allegation that the capacity of the City’s Public Transport Interchanges (PTIs) does not align with demand is at odds with the actuarial research findings that determine their construction. There are currently new PTIs under construction in Nyanga, Nolungile and Vuyani, and refurbishments of existing ones underway at various sites across the metro. Vehicles are impounded when found to be driving outside of their licensed routes. It makes no logical sense that if demand were exceeding supply on an authorised route, that a driver would venture outside of it, risking the impoundment of their vehicle, in search of passengers. Many vehicles have been impounded for operating outside of their licensed routes,’ said Cllr Quintas.

‘Much work has been done in good faith through the MBTTT and it would be an immense shame to see it grind to a halt at this point. Our door remains open to the resumption of engagement with all role players,’ said Cllr Quintas.

Media Enquiries:  Rebecca Campbell Spokesperson for Minister Ricardo Mackenzie 076 783 2583 or Rebecca.Campbell@westerncape.gov.za