DA calls for urgent dialogue on taxi safety

The Democratic Alliance (DA) said on Thursday it was “shocked and saddened at the latest road carnage involving minibus taxis”‚ and called for a formal constructive summit on public transport safety.

On Thursday morning 12 people were killed in a head-on collision between a minibus and a truck on the N1 in Limpopo‚ and on Wednesday night 25 people were injured in a collision between two taxis in Isipingo Hills‚ outside Durban.

“The loss of 12 lives and the injury of a further 25 people in two separate accidents‚ just hours apart‚ is a tragedy that could have been avoided‚” DA MP Chris Hunsinger said in a statement on Thursday.

“The Minister of Transport‚ Dipuo Peters‚ must call an urgent summit between all commuter transport stakeholders to address the carnage caused by taxis on our country’s roads.”

The national portfolio committee on transport met earlier this month‚ with the South African Bus Operators Association‚ the National Taxi Alliance and the South African Commuters Organisation to discuss issues in public transport.

“High among the concerns expressed were the issues of taxi operating licenses and control of taxi routes.

“The deliberations made it clear that the prevalence of taxi accidents‚ as well as other issues such as the violence between taxi associations and the allocation of taxi routes are a cause for deep concern and are‚ as yet‚ far from being resolved.

“It was notable that the South African National Taxi Association‚ was not represented at this meeting‚ despite an invitation having been issued to them to attend‚” said Hunsinger.

“A formal constructive summit should be called before the end of this year in an attempt to resolve matters of law enforcement and responsibility by taxi associations. This could go a long way towards finding a solution to safety issues on our roads.”