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Speech by MEC Neer at the launch of the Be Legal Campaign
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Speeches and Media Releases
 Safety Liaison and Transport

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EASTERN CAPE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT
 SPEECH BY MEC FOR PROVINCIAL SAFETY, LIAISON AND TRANSPORT
MR DENNIS NEER
AT THE PROVINCIAL LAUNCH OF THE BE LEGAL CAMPAIGN
 ON 8 MAY 2001



The Mayor of Nelson Mandela Metropole
The Chairperson of the Provincial Taxi Council
 Regional Leadership of the Taxi Council
 The Leadership of the Local Taxi Associations
 Government officials
Ladies and Gentlemen

Chairperson, Ladies and Gentlemen, today is the Provincial launch of the Be Legal Campaign. Minister Dullar Omar officially launched, this 
campaign on the 15th of March Nationally in Johannesburg.

It is amongst the RDP goals to bring all transport operators to operate legally. The Be Legal campaign is an effort focussed on our minibus 
taxi operators. It is a drive towards formalisation and regulation of this industry. Under apartheid as we all know, minibus taxis were not 
accepted as part of the formal transport industry. As Minister Omar puts it, there was not adequate infrastructure or regulation. The 
industry was just not recognised.

This, of course, led to the many members of this industry going through hardships of harassment, victimisation and frustration. The fact 
that it is almost completely black made things worse. The campaign is part of the transformation process of our society, focussing in the 
transport sector and the minibus taxi industry in particular.

WHAT IS BE LEGAL

Since 1994 the democratic government has engaged in efforts to bring normality in the operations of this industry. We have granted permits 
to many illegal operations, through the NTTT process. However an estimate of over 30 000 operations is still illegal. The Campaign is 
therefore an attempt to complete the legalisation process.

This process like all other process has been done through consultation with your structures. It has been agreed through the Interim 
Memorandum of Understanding with SATACO that the legalisation process has to be completed. The agreement says all those who operated 
without a valid licence as at 30th June 1997 will qualify for legalisation. Any other operator who comes into the picture after 30th June 
1997 does not qualify.

MORATORIUM

The Be Legal Campaign is going to run for seven (7) months. There is a moratorium on prosecutions and the impounding of taxis.All minibus 
taxi operators who qualify and applies for legalisation will be protected from prosecution, vehicles of such taxi operators will not be 
impouded.

Please understand that there is no moratorium for other traffic violations, e.g. driving without a licence or an unroadworthy car etc. The 
moratorium applies only to the offence of operating without a valid permit or operating licence. Those who do not qualify for legalisation 
cannot benefit from the moratorium.

The Land Transport Transition Act and Regulation provides for all operating licences to be route based. Any breach of the conditions by 
taxi operators of operating licences and regulations will be a criminal offence. Anyone who breaks the law will be prosecuted and may lose 
the operating licence.

A provincial Be Legal Campaign co-ordinating committee will soon be appointed. Its main responsibility will be to layout a programme for 
the coming months of the campaign and see to its implementations.

DEMOCRATISATION

A closely related matter to Be Legal is the democratisation process. It is another very important element of the transformation process of 
the industry is the.

Our Province did go through this process. We are now looking forward to the June national conference involving all the nine provinces.

There are still some associations, unfortunately, of our province who did not participate in the democratisation process. I would wish to 
appeal to them to seriously consider coming on board before the National Conference.

It is important that we avoid unnecessary divisions. A united front at the National Conference will strengthen the hand of our Province. I 
am appealing to all parties concerned to focus on the unity, stability, peace and prosperity of taxi industry. We must accommodate each 
other. The scoring of points against each other instead of finding solutions to problems, is mere procrastination.

The only way forward is through and united democratically elected leadership. I am calling upon the leadership of the taxi industry to rise 
to the challenges of the times and show maturity.

ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT (RECAP).

The last and the most important element of transformation is the economic empowerment programme for this industry. For this to happen 
depends on this to happen and succeeds depends on , with a united democratically elected leadership. Prosperity can never happen where 
there is no stability.Where there is violence. Where there is no respect for the very people it serves.

When we speak of economic empowerment we include the recapitalisation programme, the setting of co-operatives , promotion of other taxi 
related business lines like running petrol stations and spare parts outlets etc. Many other economic opportunities are there. Move away 
from self-destruction and develop a vision of prosperity

The government is availing itself to provide whatever assistance it can provide. The conditions are straight forward.We say Be Legal, 
Democratise and we shall be your partners to prosperity.

ROAD SAFETY

As I conclude, Chairperson please allow me to also touch on issues of road safety. It is also a relevant topic for todays event. When we 
say Be Legal, we do not refer only to permits and licences that is the documents.In the process of doing you business you are expected to 
operate within the law.

There are speed limits that need to be observed. The vehicles that we use to ferry passengers must be roadworthy.Reckless and drunken 
driving costs people their lives. The image of the taxi combis being coffins on wheels has to be turned around.

Statistics indicate that accidents do not happen as a result of inevitable circumstances but occur through circumstances that can be 
avoided if we exercise more precautions and patience on the roads. The human factor is mainly the cause of most accidents.

There was a reduction in the death toll on the roads this Easter. This was highly appreciated. We need to intensify our efforts on the 
observation of rules of the road. This is a responsibility of all of us, taxi operators and the passengers. Passengers should use the 
communication opportunities available to them and report a driver driving under the influence, driving for long distances without breaks or 
who insist on overloading their vehicles.

To all taxi operators we say please observe the rules of the road, that will help to save lives. Take them home safely we love them.  
Arrive Alive, Be Legal.

I thank you

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