Minibus Taxi Industry Research Articles

An historical overview of problems associated with the formalization of the South African minibus taxi industry

Die minibus taxi bedryf in Suid-Afrika is ’n belangrike afdeling van die vervoerstelsel, en daarom is dit ’n beduidende faktor in die nasionale ekonomie. Sedert die middeltagtiger jare het hierdie bedryf binne ‘n eie stel reëls en regulasies ontwikkel, in dié mate dat dit betrokke geraak het by wetteloosheid. Verskeie gewelddadige ‘taxi oorloë’ het al plaasgevind. In baie dele van die land is daar min alternatiewe openbare vervoerstelsels. Daarom het die eienaars wat die bedryf beheer, die gesamentlike mag ontwikkel om die regering se pogings om kontrole uit te oefen, te ontduik. Baie regeringsamptenare blyk betrokke te wees by taxi-sindikate. Die regering se taxi herkapitaliseringsprogram het ten doel om die swak beeld en veiligheidsrekord van die taxi-bedryf te verbeter, en om opnuut die mag af van die regering te druk op die toekenning van hulpbronne in die sektor. Hierdie inisiatief mag heel moontlik op ’n mislukking afstuur. ’n Meer pragmatiese oplossing sou kon wees om die bedryf te dereguleer, in samehang met effektiewe polisiëring, sodat die mag van die beherende partye in die bedryf aan bande gelê kan word.

Institutional statism: an overview of the formulation of the taxi recapitalisation policy

This article provides an overview of the government’s formulation of the taxi recapitalisation policy which is aimed at regulating the minibus taxi industry. Coupled with a brief social and politico-historical context of the policy, the aim is to highlight the government’s statist conduct in the formulation of the recapitalisation policy. The minibus taxi industry started to fulfil a prominent role in the 1970s as a result of a loophole in the legislation of the former apartheid government. It is currently the most accessible mode of public transport and conveys 65 per cent of the country’s commuters daily. Consequently, the Industry is an imperative force to be considered by the government in its formulation of transport policies. However, the industry is characterised by numerous problems, including a high rate of minibus taxis involved in accidents, unroadworthy vehicles and violence. It is in this context that the government formulated both the original and revised versions of the recapitalisation policy. However, the formulation of the policy has been problematic. The government followed a statist approach during the formulation process when it directed the course of the process according to its interests and without adequate consultation with relevant role players.

Overview of public transport policy developments in South Africa

In South Africa, a restructuring of the public transport system is currently under way. In the bus industry the tender for contract system is being implemented, the commuter rail sector is being recapitalised and the minibus taxi industry recapitalization programme is in its early stages. Progress with policy implementation across the modes of transport, modal split trends and issues that hamper the full development of the public transport industry are discussed in this paper. Medium to long term policy and strategy initiatives that will further inform the development of the industry are also highlighted in this chapter.

A minibus taxi by any other name, would it run as sweet?

AbstractThis paper deals with the names of minibus taxis, a common and popular form of public transport in South Africa, particularly in an inner-city context. The data were collected in the Western Cape in the Cape Peninsula (around Cape Town) as well as in some areas of the Eastern Cape.The names were bestowed by either the taxi owner or members of his family, the driver of the taxi, or by the commuters themselves. Most names are displayed either above the windscreen, on the back of the taxi, or at the door. In a few cases taxis are generally known by a name, although it is not displayed.The motivation for bestowing a name varies, but some form of identification, commemoration, or a feature of the taxi or its owner, are common categories. The paper discusses these name choices in the minibus taxi industry.