Mbalula: Taxi industry needs to clean up its image
Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula has called on the taxi industry to clean up its image.
Mbalula said the conduct of taxi operators on the road displaying flagrant disregard of the law and the rights of other road users remains a problem.
On Friday, Mbalula released the results of the National Taxi lekgotla discussion documents ahead of next month.
He said discussions and solutions cannot only be limited to regulation and empowerment.
“Our commitment to assist the industry to professionalise and develop a customer-centric culture has never been greater.
"It is time the industry embraced a professional image and culture underpinned by respect for the commuter.”
He added he believes a demerit system should be put in place to regulate behaviour.
“The discussions must give serious consideration to a penalty regime, which may, amongst others include a form of a demerit system similar to AARTO.
“Shoddy customer service and safety of commuters continue to characterise industry operations. In building a customer-centric ethos, the rights and interests of passengers and other road users, must always underpin the future taxi industry we want to build. It is equally important that the complaints mechanism that must find expression in the code of conduct envisaged in law, must be effective with tangible consequences,” he said.
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Mbalula further raised his concerns about the ill-treatment of female commuters.
“Conversations on the prevalence of gender-based violence in the taxi industry have been muted for too long and this remains a source of serious concern. The discussions on gender-based violence must occupy centre-stage and we must collectively find sustainable measures to address this decisively.”
Mbalula said talks were underway to find ways to mitigate criminal behaviour by the industry.
The lekgotla will take place on 29 October and is expected to address matters relating to the ongoing taxi violence and taxi subsidies.
