An analysis of the implementation of taxi recapitalisation programme in the Mafikeng area

Abstract

The Taxi Recapitalisation Programme (TRP), is the South African government's programme to regulate the Taxi industry in terms of the National Land Transport Transition Act (NL TT A), with the objectives to provide safe and affordable transport to the population already utilizing taxi transport, to introduce cost-effective fuel , to develop downstream manufacturing and job creation, to introduce start cards to the industry, as well as addressing challenges facing people with disability who use minibus taxis. The purpose of the study was therefore to analyze the implementation of the Taxi Recapitalisation Programme using Mafikeng area as a case study. The fundamental question that the study attempted to answer was whether any progress was made in the implementation of the programme in the area since the official announcement of the implementation data in 2005, by the National Minister of Transport. The study focused on whether local taxi owners participated in all stages of the recapitalization programme, whether the programme is realistic and implementable, whether the provincial sector department has the capacity to implement the programme. The pnmary instrument for data collection in this study was self-administered questionnaires. The findings of the study revealed that there is too much backlog on crushing old vehicles and subsequently paying out owners R50 000.00 scrapping allowances, developing Municipal Transport Plans, as well as building new taxi facilities, such as taxi ranks within the Mafikeng Local Municipality. The researcher recommends that the three parties concerned, namely, North West Department of Transport, Roads and Community Safety, eight Taxi Associations under the umbrella of Central District Taxi Council and Mafikeng Local Municipality need to work together to overcome these challenges in order to ensure successful implementation of the Taxi Recapitalisation Programme in the area of Mafikeng.