A new approach to the management of taxi-related facilites: co-operation agreement between the taxi industry and the local authority - description of a joint agreement between the taxi industry and the local authority – the Lethabong experience

Abstract

Paper presented at the 20th Annual South African Transport Conference 16 - 20 July 2001 "Meeting the transport challenges in Southern Africa", CSIR International Convention Centre, Pretoria, South Africa. ABSTRACT: The mini-bus taxi industry is part of the public transport system in the Republic of South Africa. The service is conducted on a shared basis where each passenger is responsible for his or her own fare. It usually works on an origin-destination basis,which is quick and relatively faster than conventional buses. The minibus-taxis operate from taxi ranks where passengers embark for various destinations. The ranks consist of loading, ablution and shopping facilities. The loading facilities include shelters, pavement and seating. The ablution facilities are the most important element of the rank as regards maintenance, because they could easily get out of control if not managed well. Shopping facilities can be divided into three main categories, namely: places for informal traders, kiosks and shopping units. These are all business opportunities arising from the activities at taxi ranks. Had it not been for the taxi associations that provide transport, there would have been no work for informal traders. Trading is conducted along the access roads to the taxi rank and also inside the rank. The maintenance and management system implemented in the Lethabong MLC area consists of a co-operation agreement between the authority, as owner of the taxi rank, and the taxi association in the area. The basis of the co-operation agreement is that the taxi operators undertake to manage the day-to-day maintenance and control of all activities at the rank whereas the authority is responsible for the structural maintenance of the rank. To ensure that the taxi industry remains committed to the agreement, the association deposits an amount with the council to be used to call private cleaners or craftsmen to fix faults at the ranks, in case the taxi association does not fulfil its responsibilities. The paper gives more details of the contents of the co-operation agreement between the council and the controlling taxi association, and the operational agreement concluded by all the taxi associations providing services at the rank. The paper also discusses the role of respectively the taxi subcommittee and the Section 59 Transport Committee, as liaison structures between the different associations and between the council, other role players and the taxi industry.