Issued by: Gauteng Legislature
25 June 1997
The Gauteng Legislature will hold an urgent and Special Sitting of the House on Friday, 27 June 1997 at the Legislature Building, at corner Loveday and President streets in Johannesburg at 10h00, in order to the consideration and likely adoption of the Gauteng Road Transportation Amendment Bill.
Commenting about the Sitting, the Speaker, Mr Trevor Fowler, said "the Bill is designed to address the distressing loss of lives and injuries due to violence in the Mini-bus Taxi industry, particularly in and around the Soshanguve area, a tragedy which has taken place in the space of a few weeks. The Premier has requested for this Sitting in response to the urgency of the tragedy, and to seek measures that will enable the effective regulation and control of the industry. The response is a joint effort between the North West and Gauteng Provincial Governments and Legislatures. The North West Legislature is expected to sit on 3 July to consider a similar initiative".
The Speaker, in consultation with political party whips, has facilitated a rapid processing of the Bill by the Legislature, in accordance with the provisions of the standing rules.
The Memorandum of the Bill, which seeks to amend the Road Transportation Act of 1977 in so far as it applies in Gauteng, says "provision is made for the appointment of a Provincial Taxi Registrar by the MEC, as a permanent institution with support staff, and provides for his or her powers and duties.
The Bill provides for the registration of associations and their members.
"Non-members who hold valid permits may be registered if they can show that there is no primary association operating on the route in question, or that there is such an association but its conditions for membership are unfair, or that such an association has failed in two or more attempts to obtain registration."
The Memorandum explains that "the enforcement of the law relating to minibus taxis is bedevilled by the fact that it is impossible to identify legal operators and those who are in the process of being legalised and distinguish them from totally unacceptable operators.
This Bill will enable the controlling authorities to properly control and enforce the proper operation of taxi operators, for the good of the commuters being served, by instituting the compulsory prominent display of identifying marks in respect of permits on the vehicle and of distinguishing marks for operators whose associations have been conditionally registered."
Law enforcement agencies, who comprise traffic services, road transportation inspectors, South African Police Services and the South African Defence Force, will be empowered to act against offenders and to apply the appropriate penalties and enforcement measures.
The major cause of confrontation and violence is "the operation on various routes by taxi operators not authorised to do so in terms of agreement between various taxi associations, and the breach of such agreements by such associations and their members", the Bill explains.
Signed by: Moemise Motsepe (Media Liaison Officer)
(Issued by the Communication Department of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature).