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Programme Director
SANSBOC Board Members
CEOs of Transport Entities
Heads of Departments
Representatives of Public Transport Operators
Distinguished Guests
Members of the Media
Ladies and Gentlemen

Programme Director: It is my great pleasure and gratitude to be addressing this momentous conference which is bringing both the small bus operators' elective conference and the launch of the South African National Bus Operators council.
 
It is my firm belief that the Small Bus services and operations to our communities will work effectively with today's green light launch of the SA National Small Bus Operators Council (SANSBOC).
This launch is key to the establishment of a formal representative body in South Africa through a process that will represent the Small Bus Operators and will assist operators to interact with each other and other relevant stakeholders especially the government.

We are all aware of the pivotal role of buses in the transportation of our people throughout the country and the crucial contribution that buses, taxis and trains play to the development of our public transport networks cannot be overemphasized.

The Department of Transport acknowledges the role played by small bus operators over the years, in rendering unsubsidized transport to our poor communities and at some times under extremely difficult circumstances. This event presents us with a memorable development in the history of South Africa's public transport system. It is a privilege to have with us today representatives from all Provincial government departments, business as well as small bus operators from all provinces.

rs (SBOs) have been operating their businesses with a lot of challenges. The Department started to engage with them in 2009. In several meetings key issues that came out were, the exclusion and lack of recognition of the historically disadvantaged bus operators by the state and in particular in the roll-out of Integrated Public Transport Networks (IPTNs) spearheaded by Provinces and the cities.

Secondly there was a lack of government intervention on behalf of SBOs similar to those presently afforded to the minibus taxi industry. They proposed that the Department should sincerely engage SBOs and bring them up to speed with new initiatives in the main stream of public transport environment. In view of the SBOs concern and their growing disillusionment, the Department of Transport (DOT) convened a SBOs National Summit in November 2009.

The main objective of the summit held in November 2009 was to address the development of an Empowerment Strategy, development of partnerships with small bus operators and their stakeholders and lastly to look into other regulatory challenges facing the emerging bus operators in this county. During that summit two key resolutions were taken, that is, formalization of the SBOs and the empowerment of SBO's. Today the Department can confirm that with regard to formalization of SBOs, the Provincial and National data-base of SBO's data-base has been created.
 
The National Coordinating Committee (NCC) comprising of two SBOs representative from each province and two representatives from South African Bus Operators Association (SABOA) has been established as well.
The Memorandum of Understanding between the Department and the NCC has been developed and signed by all parties and the National Constitution and the Code of Conduct of Small Bus Operators has also been concluded.
Subsequent to the 2009 summit, on the 4th November 2011 the Department hosted Small Bus Operators Conference at Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand. The Conference emanated from the resolutions adopted at the 2009 Summit.
The Conference was more focused on the issues of formalization of Small Bus Operators as it was resolved at the 2009 Summit. At the said conference the National Coordinating Committee (NCC) was reaffirmed by the members of the Small Bus Operators. In this regard it was resolved that the NCC will represent SBOs as an interim structure until such time that the national structure is constituted. Hence we are here today. It was also resolved that, Provinces should start with the process of conducting their Provincial elective conferences by March 2012.

The launch of South African National Small Bus Operators Council (SANSBOC) is aimed at establishing a formal representative body in South Africa through a democratic process that will represent the Small Bus Operators. This body will assist the Small Bus Operators to interact with each other and other relevant stakeholders, particularly the government.

All nine (9) Provinces undertook the responsibility to establish the Provincial structures through similar democratic processes and it was unfolded throughout the country and the Department would like to appreciate the role that the Provinces has played in this which indicate that working together we can do more.

A further development to the transport sector, the Department launched an Integrated Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment Transport Charter in October 2008 which has since been gazetted for implementation. The fundamental objective of the Charter is to provide the Department with ample opportunity to intervene decisively in empowering the Historically Disadvantage Individuals (HDI's) particularly in this regard the emerging black bus operators.

The Department has recently initiated a process of bringing this Charter into force by engaging Provinces, Agencies and other role players to ensure that the Charter is implemented in all procurement processes including the roll out of the Integrated Public Transport Networks (IPTN's).
 
It is important that, SMME's comprehend opportunities that are there across the entire value chain when IPTN's are rolled out. It is indeed an inspiring and positive experience and to some extent, one could be emotional about this important step to meet objectives of a Broad Base Economic Empowerment of our small bus operators.
However, we have been exposed during the previous transport months to various significant events of which the release and debate of the National Public Transport Strategy aimed at accelerating public transport implementation through a 'win-win' partnership between government, existing operators and labour was made.

Nonetheless, in terms of the second resolution, that is the empowerment of SBOs, all role players had to ensure that a working relationship is created between the taxi industry, government and business community and lastly to develop a policy framework for SBOs. Today the Department together with all the Provincial Departments of Transport and Small Bus Operators can confirm that the SBO's strategy for formalization and empowerment has been developed.  
The Public Transport Strategy which is our pillar to the implementation of an effective public transport system calls for the following actions;

• Implementation of priority infrastructure for public transport,
• A sustainable public transport legacy from 2010 FIFA World Cup projects,
• Maximization of opportunities to promote public transport through Municipal Infrastructure Grant and EPWP programmes.

Government appreciates the route that the Small Bus Operators have chosen to realize the important role that, as previously disadvantaged emerging bus operators, must prepare themselves appropriately, that is by forming organized groups and or associations to be able to take up those opportunities when they arise.
The Department needs to address aspects of sincere concern that affect quality transport delivery by our dominant public passenger transport providers.
I must say reliable public transport provision is still characterized by the following:

• Level of harassment, intimidation and violence over lucrative routes,
• General notion of suspicion and resent towards any form of regulation,
• Narrow profit margins that force operators to look at alternative and additional means of income,
• Reckless and negligent driving, also as a result of revenue targets by owners.

I must state that government will not tolerate any form of violence in the transport industry and will continue to urge all public transport operators to work in a coordinated and peaceful manner. Government also wishes to learn from you as emerging operators. The transport strategy is an integrated strategy that does not stop at National boundaries neither at Provincial boundaries.

To all who participated in this initiative, particularly the National Coordinating Committee led by the Public Transport Branch, the Department wants to thank you for your support to make this conference a success. Without these strategic partnerships this process cannot grow. The Department calls on you to use this as a foundation for enhanced and speed implementation of high quality public transport services in this country.

The ice has been broken; this is indeed the policy of this country, joining hands together in efforts to develop those who were disadvantaged towards a better future for all of us. Ladies and Gentlemen: our efforts to pursue the implementation of transport infrastructure projects and services for a better life require a collective effort from all corners of South Africa. The role of Small Bus Operators and other public transport operators such as the taxi industry and the passenger rail services are equally important and we can only win if we work together to iron out the current challenges of our public transport system.
I thank you!