In a significant development for the North West Province, the MEC for the Department of Community Safety and Transport Management, Sello Lehari, has officially concluded the long-awaited financial assistance package for the Provincial Taxi Council (PTC). The announcement was made during the provincial government's accelerated service delivery programme, “Thuntsha Lerole” at Gopane Tribal Authority in the Ramotshere Moiloa Local Municipality.
The financial support, amounting to a substantial R2 million, is earmarked to cover administrative costs and marks the resolution of a protracted engagement process between the Department and the Provincial Taxi Council. Lehari expressed gratitude to the council for their patience and cooperation throughout the extended negotiations.
"We are here after lengthy engagements, and finally we are at the end of this long process to assist with administrative costs. This is in line with the departmental mandate, which is to promote community and road safety through community mobilisation," stated Lehari. Lehari said the importance of unity within the taxi industry is to diffuse tensions and conflicts that adversely impact commuters.
Despite occasional disagreements, Lehari urged the industry to collaborate and strive for peace and harmony in the province. The process, which extended over a long period, involved benchmarking with other provinces that provide financial assistance to the taxi industry. The resultant funding is expected to facilitate the implementation of various projects aimed at improving public transport service within the industry.
The Chairperson of the Provincial Taxi Council, Ebusang Tladi, expressed appreciation for the assistance and assured the of the council's continued cooperation with the Department. "With this funding, we will be able to implement several projects that are intended to improve our service in the industry and continue to work with the department," said Tladi.
To solidify this collaboration, a team comprising representatives from the department and the Provincial Taxi Council has been formed to finalise the drafting of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for a three-year programme. This programme is designed to address the challenges facing the industry and set a strategic direction for its growth and sustainability.
Notably, for several years, the North West had been the only province in the country not subsidizing the taxi industry. Tensions escalated last month during the Presidential Imbizo in Potchefstroom when taxi owners and operators threatened to block the N12 route from Johannesburg to Potchefstroom.
Urgent intervention by Lehari averted this action, leading to the subsequent approval of the R2 million subsidy for the Provincial Taxi Council. This financial injection is expected to bring about positive change and usher in a new era of collaboration between the department and the taxi industry, ensuring improved services and safety for commuters across the North West Province.
