Johannesburg, 29 July 2000
MEC Mosunkutu
Leaders of the Gauteng Taxi Council
Members of the Provincial Legislature
Taxi Owners and Drivers
I bring you warm greetings from the Gauteng Provincial Government and its people. Today the taxi industry is making history. We are launching the first ever taxi council in the country, where leaders have not been imposed, or decided in dark corners, but elected by the members themselves. This leadership will enjoy the respect of the government and its members on issues that it raises for broader discussions. The Gauteng Provincial Government pledges to work with you to ensure that the industry takes its rightful place in our country - socially, politically and economically.
Many commuters, the majority of whom are workers, are dependent on you for transport on a daily basis. In Gauteng - the economic hub of our country and region - the taxi industry is even more significant.
Many people use minibus taxis to travel to and from other parts of our country and neighbouring countries. This is indeed what makes the taxi industry a special one to us as government and to the general populace. MEC Mosunkutu informs me that the conference was a resounding success characterized by open and robust debate. I am very encouraged that you used the time not only to lobby for your preferred candidates, but also to look constructively at the challenges facing the industry, such as labour relations, gender, AIDS, customer care, overloading and road discipline.
This positive outcome of the conference and your conduct during the proceedings sends a very good message to those who view the taxi industry as violence ridden and corrupt. You have demonstrated that there are many good people within the industry who care about the industry, the lives of their fellow citizens - passengers and other road users - and are not driven only by the pure quest for profit. Late last year and early this year, there were sporadic incidents of violence in some of our taxi ranks. While we may have been angry with one another when such incidents occurred, I want to express my sincere thanks to taxi operators and owners for the cooperation we received from all of you during those trying times. Noting our resolve to stabilise the industry, you played a positive role in helping us end the violence and ensure continued stability in the Province.
Your support for the difficult work lead by MEC Mosunkutu, over the past few months to eliminate criminal elements from the taxi industry shows that many of you are committed to work with us to rid the industry of the bad image it has had for many years. Today we can all walk tall with dignity. Let us together ensure that the slogan: 'forward ever, backward never' also applies to the taxi industry.
Together we can ensure that those who want to use the industry for their own criminal activities do not succeed. It is through partnership that we will be able to effectively deal with problems of transport for our people in this province and the country at large. Without partnership we will continue to point fingers at one another, which will not lead us anywhere. Together we have a responsibility to ensure the safety of our citizens. However you have an added responsibility since commuters entrust you with their lives on a daily basis.
For far too long the taxi industry has been regarded as an industry in the periphery. One that you go to if you get retrenched or dismissed. All of that must change. What we need is an integrated public transport system that combines rail, buses and taxis. As government we will ensure that the necessary infrastructure to sustain all modes of public transport is in place. Whatever we do to develop a reliable and sustainable public system will take into account the important role that all modes of public transport must play, without elevating one above the other. In addition, while an element of competition will always be there, those who provide transport - private and public sector - need to work in a way that is complimentary. This is in the best interest of all those who provide transport, commuters and the country. Taking into account the price of petrol and the congestion on the roads, our public transport policy must encourage the use of public transport and discourage the use of own vehicles. Public transport must also be targeted at tourists, most of who are used to an efficient, safe and affordable public transport in their own countries. This is the context within which the taxi recapitalisation process must be located. A recent survey conducted by the Human Science Research Council (HSRC) found that nearly 60% of people surveyed supported the minibus taxi re-capitalisation process. Their reasons for support ranged from issues such as concerns for road safety, the need for comfort and the retraining of drivers. They also see it as a way of subsidisation of the industry by government.
In discussions with taxi owners and drivers in Gauteng, we have found that the majority is not opposed to the recapitalisation per se, but have certain concerns that they need addressed. These range from ensuring that those who represent taxi people in discussions with the government have a mandate from the industry, that they are not supporting the process for their own personal gains, etc. I know that there has been a feeling that currently the view of some in the taxi industry is not being heard and that some that represent the industry are only driven by greed. If there is any shred of truth in these suggestions, then steps to remedy the situation will have to be taken using the right channels.
Taxi drivers have raised the issue of the job loss that they think may happen due to the process of recapitalisation. All of these are legitimate concerns that need to be addressed. We are a caring government. We will proceed in a manner that does not increase the social instability in our country. It is not in our interest to put people out of jobs. In addition we will ensure that the process promotes black economic empowerment and small business development. The real advantages of this recapitalisation process is that it will ensure that, on the one hand, transport will become a lot cheaper for commuters because the new minibuses will use diesel which cost less than petrol. On the other hand, taxi operators will get new minibuses subsidised by government. As a province, our economy stands to gain since some of the new minibuses are likely to be manufactured from here. One area of concern is the need to ensure the safety and well being of drivers. It is in the interest of taxi owners and the public at large that taxi drivers must work under conditions of safety and good health. These are the people to whom thousands of commuters entrust their lives on a daily basis. We all know that a number of drivers operate under very difficult and sometimes harsh conditions. They work long hours, face unfair demands from their employers and work in an environment without proper regulations.
While the Basic Conditions of Employment Act gives rights to all workers regarding conditions of employment such as hours of work, sick leave, annual leave, and overtime payment, there are no specific measures or regulations relating to taxi drivers and their employers as is the case with many other sectors. While other sectors have sectoral bargaining councils to negotiate these issues, there is no such forum for the taxi industry. The Department of Labour has begun a process of sectoral determination for the taxi industry. This is aimed at improving the working conditions of taxi drivers and setting up minimum standards and wages. All of us should support this process since it will bring stability to the industry. It will ensure that the industry is looked upon as an economic sector with a major potential for black empowerment. Whereas poor working conditions threaten the growth of the industry, a good labour practice makes the industry flourish. Taxi owners and drivers need to ensure that they participate in the process so as to ensure that their views are taken on board. Some of the issues under consideration are wages, notice period by the driver and the employer, hours of work, lunch breaks, the need or otherwise of overtime work and payment thereof, day offs as well as looking at whether there should be a government pension scheme for taxi drivers. All of us need to accept that workers have the right to organise themselves into legitimate unions. What is unacceptable is using union formations to terrorise taxi owners including taking away their taxis or refusing to give them money from a day's work. That is thugerry and should not be tolerated. From next week Tuesday, stricter measures regarding drinking and driving, and the use of a hand held cell phone while driving will come into force.
The quantity of alcohol a person can take and drive has been reduced. I urge you to work with us to ensure compliance with the law. Do not drink and drive. Do not use hand held cell phone devices while driving. We will arrest and punish those found to be breaking the law. Many people have died because of lunatics driving under the influence of liquor or were concentrating on a cell phone conversation instead of on the road. I wish the new Council good luck in its work and hope that the resolutions of the conference are implemented to the latter. I look forward to working with the new leadership in a constructive way.
I thank you
Issued by Office of the Premier Gauteng Provincial Government 30 Simmonds Street Johannesburg