By Lungile Ntimba
The Transport Department will spend the next three to six months reviewing the Revised Taxi Recapitalisation Programme to analyse and address challenges in its implementation.
This review follows a number of issues identified by the programme, including that new vehicles are expensive.
Other challenges include issuing operating licences, an outdated administration system, illegal operations and voluntary process of scrapping.
The recapitalisation programme was initially implemented in 2007 with a mandate to improve passenger safety within taxi industry by scrapping 100,000 unsafe, unreliable and unroadworthy old taxi vehicles. They were replaced with compliant purpose-built new taxi vehicles.
The programme has been updated throughout the years.
According to a document presented by the department to Parliament’s transport committee, the aim of the latest recapitalisation plan was to ensure that everyone in the industry participated.
The document said that by resolving current concerns, the department’s proposal that minibus taxis were scrapped every five years, would be more viable. Currently it is on voluntary basis, but the department wants this to change.
The department also suggested an annual deadline for the scrapping old taxis on a staggered basis.
To resolve the issue of affordability, officials pointed out the need for meeting between financers, the taxi industry and the transport department to establish an affordable model for operators.
Meanwhile, it was suggested that a joint programme between the industry, the police and the department implemented to curb illegal operators.
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