Pretoria - The basis for violence, disruptions and instability in the taxi industry no longer existed, said Gauteng MEC for Public Transport and Road Infrastructure Jacob Mamabolo.
He made the statement yesterday as he called upon the minibus taxi operators to refer all industry disputes to the Gauteng Public Transport Arbitration Office. The entity was established to resolve all disputes in the industry.
Taxi associations and a commuters group in Hammanskraal submitted a memorandum to the Department of Transport about disputes that needed urgent attention in their area.
Mamabolo said it was an opportune time to remind the minibus taxi industry about the recently established arbitration that sought to hear such disputes and address them to avoid violence.
Headed by retired Judge Jeremiah Shongwe, the office was established to serve as an alternative dispute resolution mechanism within the public transport industry in the province.
He said: “The Gauteng government has established this platform for the minibus taxi industry operators to resolve their disputes. With its establishment, there is no more basis for violence, disruptions and instability that negatively affect movement and the lives of commuters.
“This is in line with the recommendations of the commission of inquiry into taxi violence and our smart mobility vision of modernising the minibus taxi industry through peaceful resolution of disputes. We again call on the public transport service industry in the province to follow the principles of negotiation when tackling or trying to resolve disputes. As the department, we are confident that this office is well-placed to manage and assist in management of conflicts and incidences of violence in the industry.”
The department said the office, which was independent, impartial and easily accessible, offered a free service to public transport service operators.
The process to lodge disputes for an appropriate alternative dispute resolution, including arbitration, will be published on the Gauteng provincial government website. Arbitration awards will be binding and final unless overturned by the courts.
“The department’s dedicated law-enforcement arm – the Public Transport Intervention Unit – will empower the work of the office through the enforcement of arbitration awards and addressing public transport-related issues,” he added.
The unit comprises 39 law-enforcement officials who were seconded from the Department of Community Safety.
Pretoria News