Taxi Chamber

The Statistics South Africa (StasSA), Department of Transport (DoT) and Transport Education Training Authority (TETA) describe the taxi industry as a transport subsector that transports the majority of public transport users by road in vehicles other than buses. The National Land Transport Amendment Bill includes e-hailing services as part of the taxi subsector in addition to minibus taxis, metered taxi services, scholar transport, and charter services, as defined by TETA.

The National Household Travel Survey Report (2013) noted the increase in public transport use since the last survey of 2003. The use patterns of public transport have changed significantly between 2003 and 2013, with general increases in the percentage of households who used taxis (from 59,0% to 69,0%), buses (16,6% to 20,2%) and trains (5,7% to 9,9%). The Department of Transport estimates that there are between 170 000 - 300 000 taxi operators/owners in South Africa, however, registered taxis with approved operating licenses are a little more than 130 000. The majority of the owner are operating as sole proprietors as opposed to registered transport companies with the Companies and intellectual Properties Commission (CIPC) and or the South African Revenue Services

One of the challenges that TETA, The Department of Transport, The Unemployment Insurance Fund and South African Revenue Services face is to provide credible data on the number of taxi business operating in the country and the number of people working in the subsector. This may be attributable to the informal nature of the subsector in relation with the requirements of the Companies Act. In order to address this challenge, taxi operators should consider registration of businesses using the following Standard Industry Classification Codes as obtainable from both the Statistics South Africa and South African Revenue Services Websites.

TETA proposes a joint national drive to support the formal registration of taxi business in compliance with the resolutions of the National Taxi Lekgotla 2020. This drive will a partnership among the Department of Transport, The South African Revenue Services, The CIPC, The UIF and TETA. This will result in correct registration of taxi businesses with the CIPC and registration of people working in the industry with the UIF.

The available literature estimates that the subsector employs between 400 000 and 600 000 people on an informal basis. However the Skills Levy file (2017 – 2020), obtainable from SARS indicates that the entire Transport sector employs 6% (331 429) of the South African working population, and the subsector only employs 0, 1% (486) people formally. The majority of people employed in the subsector experience precarious working conditions as explained by Fobosi (2020), in his journal article “Employment Practices within the Minibus Taxi Industry in Johannesburg: A Study of Precariousness of Jobs in South Africa”. (Bhorat et al., 2016) as quoted in Fobosi (2020) explains that precarious work is mostly evident where there is low pay; poor protection from termination of employment/contract; lack of benefits and lack or limited access of workers to exercise their rights (for example, union membership). This is another challenge TETA is facing in dealing with the subsector.

Strategic Focus

• Contribute the resolutions of the National Taxi Lekgotla within the mandate of TETA, Strategic Plan and Annual Performance Plan;
• Promote safety and healthy lifestyle among stakeholders through TETA partnerships and campaigns
• Promote implementation of the taxi driver qualification
• Advocate registration of taxi businesses on the correct Standard Industry Classification Code with SARS, Registration of drivers for UIF thus eradication of precarious working conditions
• Embark on a skills levy contribution drive and other sources of funding for skills development and training in the taxi industry

Provincial Linkages

Largely, budgetary constraints make it difficult for TETA to achieve permanent and physical presence in some provinces. As result, the Taxi Chamber is responsible to coordinate TETA activities in the Northwest Province while other chamber play a similar role in other provinces. The provincial role the Taxi Chamber is playing includes managing relationships, partnerships and Memoranda of Understanding with the Office of The Premier, Department of Transport, Universities, TVET Colleges and Adopted Schools. TETA prides itself in contributing to the work of Basic Education by adopting the following secondary/high schools in the Northwest Province – Jerry Mahura, Motuba, Mmakaunyane, Molebatsi, Gaseitsewe and Utsane.

Safety Project

The Taxi Chamber immensely contributes towards the implementation of TETA’s Safety projects. The safety projects include TETA’s response to the effects of the novel Corona Virus, the scourge of the HIV/AIDS, and road carnage in the transport industry. Road carnage in the country requires TETA to devise innovative ways of training citizens on road safety and establishment of partnerships with other role players. Current partnerships include SANTACO, RTMC.

Stakeholders

The taxi chamber mainly do business with compliant taxi cooperatives, taxi business, community-based organisations, Not for Profit and Non-Government Organisation and accredited training providers.

There is Chamber Committee in place responsible for each chamber. The Chamber Committee consists of stakeholders for employer bodies and organised labour. The role of the Chamber committee is to recommend approval of the chamber Annual Performance Plan to the TETA Board and provide governance oversight responsibilities on behalf of the TETA Board. Below is a list of the Taxi Chamber Committee Members, the constituencies they represent and contact details:

Express Parcel Delivery Pilot Project

The taxi industry is intermodal in nature as it transports both passengers and parcels by road. However, the taxi industry is still to derive revenue from the express parcel delivery services. TETA is actively contributing in the development and transformation of the taxi industry albeit limited funds by way of funding multiple projects including a three-year Express Parcel Delivery pilot project implemented in all provinces. The project received buy-in from all provincial taxi councils. A quarterly project update will be provided as the three-year project is rolled out.

The National Taxi Lekgotla

The recent National Taxi Lekgotla held in October 2020, led by the Minister of Transport under the theme “Re-imagining the taxi industry of the future,” promises to provide and lead an everlasting transformation of the taxi industry. Among the main four topics discussed at the Lekgotla, TETA played a role as a resource in the topic “Transformation and Customer Care”. Among other resolutions, the Lekgotla resolved that accredited training would underpin and be a catalyst in the professionalization of the Taxi industry through skills development and customer care. To this end, TETA is identified to play a leading role on matters of skills development and training in the taxi industry.

Taxi Driver Qualification

The Occupational Qualification – Taxi Driver registered with the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO) provides a solid foundation for the training of the queue marshals, drivers and operators. This qualification has been developed with and in consultation with the taxi industry and has been duly registered with the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) - Qualification ID 94024 with the curriculum title and code, Taxi Driver: 732202000. This qualification covers all elements of the taxi industry and provides the Skills Development Providers to market and promote rolling out of the qualification. The taxi industry is further encouraged to take up this gallant qualification.

Taxi Drivers Union

The first registered and COSATU affiliated trade union has emerged in the taxi industry, namely South African Taxi Drivers Workers Union (SATDWU). The Trade Union is represented in the Taxi Chamber Committee. There is an opportunity to establish a Bargaining Council for workers in the taxi industry. TETA is looking forward to the working with the trade union in promotion of the take up of the Taxi Driver Qualification.