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03 September 2020

INTERVENTION TEAM CHAIR VOWS TO DO ALL THEY COULD TO STABILIZE TRANSPORT SECTOR

The chairperson of the North West Public Transport Intervention Team, Star Vilakazi has vowed as the team they will do all they could to stabilize the industry. The NWPTIT was established by MEC for the Department of Community Safety and Transport Management, Sello Lehari to deal with public transport related challenges.

Since December until shortly just before lockdown, the MEC had to intervene in conflicts involving taxis and buses in Brits in Madibeng Municipality. Some conflicts were within associations and operators fighting other modes of transport and passengers for hitchhiking. These were especially prevalent in areas such as Cywerskuil, Ganyesa, Klerksdorp, Letlhabile, Mafikeng, Makapanstad, Moruleng, Ottosdal, Sondela in Rustenburg, Schweizer-Reneke, Taung, Wolmaranstad and Zeerust. In some of these areas, it was found that some are operating illegally from other Provinces and also conflicts with metre taxi operators.

Accepting the mammoth challenges ahead but noting that those are not insurmountable, Star Vilakazi said they are going to begin with specified focal areas.

“The focus is to stabilise the industry were they are conflicts and prepare the transport sector in the Province to play a greater role in the economy. This we will do by calibrating the sector and break down our focus into actionable tasks”, said Mr Vilakazi.
MEC Lehari said as much as it would not be easy given the load and scope of work, he has confidence in the team put together.

“The team is capable of climbing the steep and decisively deal with difficulties they will experience. We have a mixture of youth and experience, gender balance – six men and six women, grey heads and bright sparks, so we are cautiously optimistic”, said MEC Lehari.

Among a myriad challenges the NWPTIT will have to deal with include sleaziness allegedly rife in operating licenses issuance. MEC Lehari emphasizes that since transport is a critical component of economic activity, it is of strategic importance that it be stabilised.

The responsibility of the team, said MEC Lehari, will not be limited only to challenges related to the taxi industry, but the public transport sector as a whole.

“You can only achieve your mandate and key performance areas, when you work together as a team, and get support from all concerned It will not be easy, but we believe you have in you to make it ”, concluded MEC Sello Lehari.

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