Mobility

[1] The minibus-taxi route between Mbekweni [Paarl] and Bellville [“route B97”] is currently closed for any type of minibus-taxi operations.  During May 2022, I published a notice in the Provincial Gazette Extra-ordinary 8595 [Notice 58/2022] closing the route for a period of four months from 26 May 2022 to 25 September 2022.  The affected operating licences for route B97 have been suspended in the Public Transport Regulation System [PTRS].

[2][a]  The current closure period comes to an end on 25 September 2022.  At a meeting on 23 May 2022, I made it clear to the taxi industry leadership – and they agreed - that the route will be reopened for minibus-taxi operations and the suspension on affected operating licences will be lifted, contingent on the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement [“MOA”] between the Associations who have legal rights to trade on route B97.  This will be a commitment by both parties to co-exist and to create a safe and dignified environment for passengers. 

The signing of the MOA is a peremptory requirement for the reopening of the route and the granting of further operating licences.  My officials and I have met with the leadership of the Western Cape Branch of the South African National Taxi Council and they gave a commitment to engage the affected primary Associations and Regional Taxi Councils to facilitate the signing of such an agreement. 

[b] The dispute around legal rights to trade on route B97 was the subject of an arbitration process.  Affected parties agreed to abide by the outcome of the arbitration process. The Arbitration Award was issued in November 2021 and is binding on both parties unless same is taken on judicial review.

The Arbitrator ruled that both CATA Boland Taxi Association and Paarl Alliance Taxi Association (affiliated to CODETA] have rights to trade on route B97.