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Today in Pretoria, an accident on the N14 this morning claimed 3 lives. This incident unfortunately is the latest symptom of the much deeper problem of the safety of un-roadworthy vehicles, especially minibus taxis, reinforcing the need for government to step in to take stricter control of regulating this key form of commute upon which so many South Africans rely.

This accident is hot on the heels of another crash in the Modderdam area in the Western Cape which was caused by a taxi driver where 10 innocent school children lost their lives. This situation cannot continue. The Minister of Transport, Sbu Ndebele, needs to rein in the taxi industry as clearly commuters who have no other option but to use minibus taxis continue to place their hands in a dangerous situation.

The DA proposes that the Minister do the following:

• Call an urgent meeting of the national leadership of the Minibus Industry leadership to discuss this matter,
• Send out a "State of Alert" to Traffic enforcement agencies to ensure that all respective road and vehicle-related legislation is adhered to; these include keeping to allowable passengers being transported, that taxis are roadworthy in every respect and that traffic laws are respected,
• That taxis that are not roadworthy and taxi drivers not respecting the rules of the roads be immediately taken off the roads,
• That provincial traffic enforcement agencies be included in the "State of Alert" campaign so that they can assist in ensuring that illegal taxi drivers and taxi vehicles are taken off the road,
• That Metropolitan police services participate in this campaign,
• That the Minister meet his Police counterpart to assist in this campaign,
• That a proper reporting system be set up to ensure that this "Alert" is meeting required outcomes and results.

It is the commuters that end up suffering by being injured, traumatized and even losing family members due to the reckless and irresponsible behaviour of taxi drivers.

Unless the Minister does something urgently to curb this problem innocent people will continue to be injured and even lose lives.