By Nangamso Mabindla
22 September 2006

THE provincial department of transport and all its partners, including taxi operators, are gearing up for the R7,7-billion taxi recapitalisation programme.

Speaking at a forum held in East London, the department's Phumizile Mayaphi said that the province was at least 70 percent ready for the programme.

"We are not too far behind other provinces and we are also happy that taxi operators have applied for their operating licences," said Mayaphi.

However, there were still a few challenges that had to be addressed and all partners needed to play their part, he added. "Even though most of the operators have applied for licences, some have not collected them and we would like to call on them to collect them before the end of this month."

Buffalo City's general manager of transport planning and operations, Michael Kridiotis, said that the municipality was prepared for the bigger 25-seater taxis.

"Since we heard about the programme we have improved the capacity of our ranks. The Highway Rank in Mdantsane was constructed in such a way that it accommodates the new bigger minibuses," explained Kridiotis.

Older taxi ranks in smaller towns like Dimbaza in King William's Town will also be modified to ensure that they cater for the minibuses and are in line with the seven-year recapitalisation programme, he said.

The public relations officer for the South African National Taxi Council, Thomas Masasa, said operators were excited about the programme. "With this programme we will be like other services like Greyhound and Translux buses, and will be run professionally and subsidised."

Taxi drivers would undergo training on driving the bigger minibuses and customer care training, he added. "These are crucial areas, but we are already ahead with things like training and customer care."

He said they also planned to meet with the national and provincial departments to ensure there were no job losses and that the recapitalisation programme covered all operators within the taxi industry.