Government part of the dysfunction in the taxi industry: Makhura

On Thursday, during the Ntirhisano Provincial Taxi Indaba held at the Standard Bank Arena in Johannesburg, Makhura said he was aware of the corruption by government officials who themselves owned taxis.

"We know your problems and some of them are caused by the government but others are caused by you," he said. "We must clean up our act in government."

He announced that a cabinet committee had been assigned with the task of cleaning up the corruption in the taxi industry.

The premier also said that the Gautrain was being expanded and the government wanted the taxi industry to be partners and to be involved, as well as also getting into the bus industry in order to "get you out of survival mode".

"The taxi industry is important and we must look at the economic transformation."

Earlier, Makhura said that he knew that the associations and drivers respected the law, but that the pressure of the industry and making money was driving them to break them.

"We can't move the taxi industry forward without the industry," he said. "Plans must be discussed with you."

He explained that there were too many people applying for permits which was what was making it hard to issue them for fear there would be too many taxis in one area.

Makhura reiterated that all their grievances would be carefully addressed at a taxi summit set to be held in July.

"We want to work together to ensure that our roads are safe."

He commended the industry for employing people in various positions.

"I want to assure you that we have been engaging with industry leaders and by the time our term ends we should see taxis operating in bus routes but you must organise yourselves." - ANA