Shayela smart:A minibus taxi service transformation programme

Abstract

In February 2023, the Western Cape MEC of Mobility established the Task Team (MBTTT) to prevent an imminent minibus taxi (MBT) stay away. The Task Team consisted of political principals and senior officials from the Western Cape Government (WCG), the City of the Cape Town (the City) and SANTACO Western Cape (WC) representing the provincial Minibus Taxi (MBT) industry. One of the key outcomes of this process was the development of the Shayela Smart Programme, which includes many of the items agreed to in the MBT TT. It aims to improve MBT safety and service quality for passengers and other road users, while progressing formalisation and empowerment of the MBT sector. It will be implemented through a partnership between the Western Cape Government, the City and SANTACO WC and the programme is designed to: • Address the shortcomings of the outcomes of the City’s Special Regulatory Project (SRP), in particular Phase 2 thereof; • Implement MBT driver registration and training; • Facilitate access to and usage of vehicle tracking technology and a monitoring system; and • Implement a unified branding system for all minibus taxi vehicles in the Western Cape.The Shayela Smart Programme includes both short, medium and long-term elements, with an estimated implementation period of ten years.