By Nangamso Mabindla
22 May 2007

SINCE announcing an initiative to scrap old taxis, the Eastern Cape department of roads and transport has received 1 632 applications to have old vehicles scrapped.

The MEC, Thobile Mhlahlo, announced the initiative in 2006 in Mdantsane.

Scrapping old taxis forms part of the national government's R7,7-billion Taxi Recapitalisation Programme, which aims to upgrade taxis countrywide and to formalise the mainly informal taxi sector.

The department's spokesperson, Ncedo Kumbaca, said that of the applications received by the provincial government, 1 530 had already been approved and the department had already received 1 215 vehicles for scrapping at the Zwelitsha scrapping yard outside King William's Town in Buffalo City.

"Of these applications, 1 088 have received their R50 000 incentive from the provincial department of roads and transport," Kumbaca said.

He thanked taxi operators for their co-operation and said that the department was impressed by their response.