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Opening of Mdantsane Highway  taxi rank
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Speeches and Media Releases
 Safety Liaison and Transport

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EASTERN CAPE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT
 SPEECH BY MEC  FOR SAFETY AND LIAISON
 AT THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF MDANTSANE HIGHWAY TAXI RANK
18 SEPTEMBER 2000



Master of Ceremony,
 Your Worship, the Mayor of East London,
 Our political leadership of the area
 Taxi Leadership present,
 Our communities in general,
 Distinguished Guests,
 Ladies and Gentlemen

We are gathered here today to witness the official opening of the Mdantsane Highway Taxi Rank.This is a very important occasion for the 
taxi operators and commuters of Mdantsane and the greater East London.As experienced in the past, serious problems existed around the 
availability and control of ranks in the Province and Mdantsane in particular.

Chairperson, allow me to show my appreciation to the T.L.C. of East London for the positive role they continue to play in the efforts to 
normalise and formalise the running of this industry.Only a few months ago, we were together in a partnership implementing Operation 
Vulindlela, today we are again together in the official opening of Mdantsane taxi rank.

This asset belongs to all of you, communities as well as taxi operators and associations.It is therefore our responsibility to maintain it 
as it is.We have a moral and constitutional responsibility both as government and broader communities to jealously guard against vandalism 
and general destruction of assets.

We have identified local government who as at the pivotal point of service delivery as the correct structures for exercising control over 
all taxi ranks.The tendency by taxi associations of opening ranks wherever they found an open space, without even consulting with the 
affected local authority, is unacceptable and is a cause of anarchy in the industry.This facility we are officially opening today is, 
therefore, under the T.L.C. of East London and is meant to serve all taxi operators who ferry passengers to and from Mdantsane irrespective 
of the taxi association they belong to.

Todays occasion, is one event in a number of processes that the government is committed to do, for the transformation of the taxi 
industry.This industry, in the South African economy, plays a very vital role as it is the main source of transport for many areas of our 
country.

When conflict and violence arise in this industry, all peace loving communities and our economy are affected. As government, we have to 
intervene vigorously to deal with challenges faced by this industry.

There are various interventions, that we, as government are doing to assist the taxi industry to effectively play its vital role in our 
economy and society. We have put in place the National Land Transition Act passed in August this year. This is the legislation that is now 
guiding us in all matters pertaining to routes and permits. No more must we have strife in the taxi industry regarding routes and permits. 
Everyone must look at the legislation passed recently and find out what the law says and abide by it. We are a state with a clear legal 
framework. All of us are duty bound,to respect the law.

Two months ago we were in Queenstown, launching a Provincial Sticker to be used by all taxi operators in the Province irrespective of which 
mother body they belong to.The presence of one sticker, will contribute to the reduction of violence in the taxi industry.Regulations 
guiding the process will be in place by mid November.

Our policy guides us as government to bring those who have been deliberately marginalised to the centre of the economy.The taxi industry is 
predominantly composed of people who come from the disadvantaged communities.For effective development and transformation to take place to 
take place, we must, first, do away with the present structures that are not formalised in the industry.

The taxi democratisation process is critical in the formalisation of this industry. As government we are insisting on the democratisation 
process before we can proceed to other programmes that will involve huge amounts of money in the effort to transform the industry.

We have to talk to credible and democraticaly elected leadership when we take serious decisions.We are assisting this industry so as to run 
on professional lines.We want to see a taxi industry that appreciates and respects its customers.The law of the Jungle has to be a thing of 
the past. We will not allow anarchy to prevail.

The democratisation process has begun in the Province and will be completed very soon. The department of Transport is committed to the 
resolution of problems that are challenging this process.Most primary associations in the various parts of the Province have been 
workshopped and elected on the basis of the standard constitution as adopted at National by all Provinces.Like all situations undergoing a 
change the process has its own fair share of hiccups.

What is crucial and important for all taxi operators in this province is to be part of the democratisation process, so that, we contribute 
on behalf of all taxi operators in decision making with government Nationally.We urge all associations to come forward and be part of the 
process.

We are determined as government to move forward with this process.It would be criminal to do otherwise.The industry and society at large 
have been calling upon government to act decisively and resolve the source of conflict affecting this industry.We believe the 
democratisation exercise is crucial if we hope to succeed in transforming this industry.

We are still calling upon those Primary Associations who found themselves outside this process to come on board.Our concern is that when 
this process reaches the stage of regional elections, it will be difficult to accommodate those associations left behind by the process.The 
time to get on board is now.

Chairperson, ladies and gentlemen, change has finally arrived in the taxi industry.The sooner people embrace and adapt to the new 
developments the better for all of us.There is no going back.The winds of change are gathering momentum. Do not stand in the way.

I thank you.

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