MINIBUS AND TAXI INDUSTRY AT A GLANCE
By
PETER MABE
DORLJOTA
MINIBUS AND TAXI INDUSTRY AT A GLANCE
 As it is so well written by Siyabulela Fobosi, today the
South African minibus taxi industry remains the critical
pillar of the country’s public transport sector. Not only is it
the most available mode of transport, it is also the most
affordable to the public. It is thus considered the servant
for the majority of urban poor.
MINIBUS AND TAXI INDUSTRY AT A GLANCE
 The minibus taxi industry continues to play a leading role in the
public transport sector, transporting up to 65% of the South African
population to their destinations. The industry is praised with
supporting black South African communities by providing a
decentralised, inexpensive, and more accessible alternative to
public transportation. It has, to a large extent, empowered black
South Africans at a time when few opportunities existed for economic
empowerment. It also provides a strong example of enterprise
serving as a platform for fighting unemployment, for job creation and
for poverty alleviation.
MINIBUS AND TAXI INDUSTRY AT A GLANCE
 In trying to alleviate the negative impacts that come
with having a number of vehicles such as air
pollution from fossil and Carbon dioxide which is a
major greenhouse gas and motor vehicle emissions
are an important contributor to the growth of CO2
concentrations in the atmosphere and therefore to
global warming.
MINIBUS AND TAXI INDUSTRY AT A GLANCE
 The minibus and taxi industry has partnered up with the Industrial
Development Corporation (IDC) and CNG Holdings, through CNG’s
Natural Gas Vehicles (NGV) Gas subsidiary, in which the IDC is a
shareholder. This will save roughly 40% on the cost of fuel following the
launch of South Africa’s first compressed natural-gas (CNG) public filling
station along with an initiative to convert 1,000 taxis to the cleaner fuel
alternative. This will be extremely beneficial as the working-class
population in this country is essentially the walking class. It is the rising
middle class that is totally reliant on their vehicles. We therefore need to
begin to shift and change that culture and use more public transport.
MINIBUS AND TAXI INDUSTRY AT A GLANCE
MINIBUS AND TAXI INDUSTRY AT A GLANCE
 To a large extent, “public transport was dominated by
government-owned trains and by bus companies that
received subsidies from government.” From the early
1980s to the mid-1990s, the minibus taxi industry grew
at an extraordinary rate, as a seemingly “communitybased industry … without any form of subsidies.”
MINIBUS AND TAXI INDUSTRY AT A GLANCE
 To this day, the Department of Transport is still facing the
challenge of subsidising the industry. It is for this reason
that we would advise more support in this regard, as
doing so would not only assist in a more improved
service but would also assist in our greater cause of
reducing the number of cars in our city.
MINIBUS AND TAXI INDUSTRY AT A GLANCE
 As the minibus and taxi industry we also understand that public
transport plays a major role in moving society towards EcoMobility
and support the City of Joburg’s view of introducing initiatives such
as encouraging car sharing schemes and the introduction of highoccupancy vehicle lanes
as supplementary actions as this will
contribute to the conversion to EcoMobility because of its potential to
reduce congestion.
MINIBUS AND TAXI INDUSTRY IN A GLANCE
 Using taxis does not only reduce the number of vehicles on the road as for
every full loaded taxi there is a reduction of over 10 private vehicles on our
roads, but also enhances the quality of life of citizens and promotes social
cohesion . Which is also one of the main objectives of this great initiative
 Now how do we change the mindset of the other motorists to embrace the
above concept? ATTITUDE AND PERCEPTION
 New York Times Best-selling author John C. Maxwell said: “Attitude is
always a player in your team”.
MINIBUS AND TAXI INDUSTRY AT A GLANCE
MINIBUS AND TAXI INDUSTRY AT A GLANCE
 We cannot control the negative atmosphere of the
world, but we can control the atmosphere or our
minds.
 Too often, we try to choose to control things we
cannot.
 Too seldom, we choose to control what we can…
our attitude
 It is therefore not what happens to me that
matters but what happens in me!
MINIBUS AND TAXI INDUSTRY AT A GLANCE
Member of the Mayoral Committee for Transport, Ms
Christine Walters once said:
“A seamless transport system where people can switch
from the Gautrain to the Metrobus or the Rea Vaya, to
taxis to cycling and walking, will significantly reduce the
volume of private transport usage in the City.”
MINIBUS AND TAXI INDUSTRY AT A GLANCE
Therefore with integrated transport system the city can
be able to address the challenges of emissions, traffic
congestion and economic growth (less time spend on
the road but being productive).
MINIBUS AND TAXI INDUSTRY AT A GLANCE
 It is our responsibility that we all contribute towards
ensuring that these challenges are addressed.
 We need to build the confidence of the people that
we can achieve the impossible, by creating an
integrated transport system that provide solutions
to all the users.
 When we make decisions it must be fast, but it must
be a universal process that we trust, and that
involves all important stakeholders. We must not wait
too long to act and therefore we need to have
courage or be courageous.
MINIBUS AND TAXI INDUSTRY AT A GLANCE
CONCLUSION
We must always
remember that no
matter how long the
path ahead of ours
is, unless we take
that first step, we
won’t be able to
travel any part of that
path.
[email protected]