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Taxis set to team up with top brass

THE taxi industry still has to elect its representatives to the proposed national joint working group on public transport.

THE taxi industry still has to elect its representatives to the proposed national joint working group on public transport.

Taxi bodies had until yesterday to submit the names of their officials who will join their government counterparts to form a structure to harmonise strained relations between the two parties.

The taxi industry has had public spats with the department over public transport issues that include the Rea Vaya Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system. The hostile relations have been characterised by violent protest marches in which taxi people had fought with the police.

Philip Taaibosch of the South African Taxi Council yesterday said they were still consulting their members nationwide.

Transport Minister S'bu Ndebele met the taxi industry on June 11 and told them to appoint their representatives to the proposed joint working structure.

Taaibosch says they would soon have their team ready.

"The taxi industry has never been opposed to issues about improvement of public transport," Taaibosch said. "What we have been opposed to is the government's approach to issues, especially BRT."

Alpheus Mlalazi of the National Taxi Council said they were happy with the developments.

"We have met with the government and we are happy with the way things are going. I cannot say for now what we spoke about but things look as if they are going to be fine," Mlalazi said.

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