Transport for People with Disabilities

JOINT MONITORING COMMITTEE ON IMPROVEMENT OF QUALITY OF LIFE AND STATUS OF CHILDREN, YOUTH AND DISABLED PERSONS
7 September, 2007
TRANSPORT FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

Chairperson: Ms Newhoudt-Druchen (ANC)

Documents Handed out:
SARCC Metrorail: Special Needs Passengers Presentation 2007
SANTACO: Transport for People with Disabilities Presentation 2007
Department of Transportation: Short-Term Accessible Transport Strategy Presentation 2007
SARCC illustration

Audio recording of meeting

SUMMARY
The South African Rail Commuter Corporation (SARCC), the SA National Taxi Association Council (SANTACO) and the Department of Transport briefed the Committee on transportation for people with disabilities. Current policies for users with special transportation needs, design guidelines and implementation plans were discussed as well as the status quo of the South African system and how it could respond to these needs. The Committee raised concerns about the challenges and lack of accessible transportation in South Africa.

Due to time constraints, many issues remained unresolved. The Committee was dissatisfied with the presentation by the Department of Transport so a follow-up presentation was insisted upon. The Committee plans to hold public hearings in an effort to involve people representing the disabled to further articulate their challenges.

MINUTES
SARCC / Metrorail presentation: Special Needs Passengers
Mr Enos Ngutshane, Group Executive, SA Rail Commuter Corporation Ltd (SARCC), presented the new policy and design guidelines that had been developed for special need passengers (SNP). The presentation looked at the definition and prevalence of SNPs, the legislative background and SARCC’s response, the identification of key stations, their plan for the way forward as well as a project timeline.

SARCC had prepared its draft National SNP Policy and regional implementation plans for Durban, Tshwane, Western Cape and Witwaterstrand to address the adequacy gaps in the national commuter rail network. This project had been initiated to compile a SNP policy with selected stakeholders as well as to prepare design guidelines for improved commuter rail accessibility. Collation of comments on this matter had already been received and the draft design guidelines had been amended. The draft would be presented to SARCC/Metrorail EXCO for final approval. This draft would be available to all stakeholders to comment upon. SARCC’s goal was to complete these guidelines by the end of the year.

Discussion
Mr B Mkongi (ANC) commented on the security issue on trains with regard to SNPs and asked how challenges related to this and other matters could be resolved.

Mr Ngutshane acknowledged South Africa’s security challenges and said that the Department would include the National Commissioner of Police in their policies to protect the commuters. R160 million had been spent in the past two years on building a police presence at various stations. The goal was to have a police force deployed at each station and have the disabled assisted by such forces, who would be required to complete a training session and wear uniforms.

Mr Mkongi commented on the overcrowding and late arrival of trains and wanted to know how to resolve this matter.

Mr Ngutshane said that the number of trains had been reduced. Although there were 93 designated trains in Cape Town, there were only 76 that operated.  That was the main cause of overcrowded trains and the goal was to bring back the remaining trains.

Mr Mkongi asked whether or not the trains were well prepared in case of emergency.

Mr Ngutshane touching on the issue of wheelchair safety, said that the wheelchair ought to be secured before the train started moving. Alarms within each coach would be replaced in cases of these types of emergencies.

Mr A Madella (ANC) commented on disability legislation and policy. The South African Constitution had addressed the needs of people around dignity, the right to work and education but these rights depended on the ability to move. The vehicles provided by the Department of Transport under the “Dial A Ride” campaign were very limited in number. Despite the recent R10 million increase towards the campaign budget, there still was a great need for additional vehicles to accommodate more people.

Mr Ngutshane said that he could not respond to any questions about “Dial A Ride” as it was handled by the local authority.

Mr Madella asked how many railway stations were currently complying with the three criteria.

Mr Ngutshane replied that there were no stations complying with all of the three criteria. The Department was currently engaged in building the stations and it was solely a matter of improving them to a completely accessible level.

Mr Madella commented that the timeline provided in the presentation did not address the issues of stakeholders and asked to what extent people with disabilities would be a part of policy making.

Mr M Moss (ANC) complained about the discrimination against the disabled in terms of the accessibility of trains and how little had been done to resolve this. The problem had been pointed out that more people utilized the facilities designed for the disabled than the disabled themselves. He asked if and when all train stations would be level three.

Mr Ngutshane acknowledged the Department of Transport’s discrimination. Sharing experiences and ideas from abroad with stakeholders would be an option to end this discrimination.

Ms F Batyi (ID) commented asked whether there were any future construction plans for special entrances for SNPs and for signs that would point out existing ramps and lifts.

Mr Ngutshane said that building special entrances and clear identification of ramps for the SNPs was included in the Department’s future plans.

Mr D Gamede (ANC) requested clarification on the definition of “assisted” and “disabled” passengers and commented that meeting the legislative requirement should not be interpreted as a favour for the disabled. It was in fact the law that required the accessibility of transportation to the disabled. Nothing had been done on this matter, thus the law had been breached.

Mr Ngutshane said that there were three categorical differences between an “assisted” and “disabled” person as mentioned in the presentation. For more information, the presentation must be revisited.

Ms J Chalmers (ANC) wanted to know if there would be any way to fast track the plans and guidelines to address some of the essential needs especially the deployment of marshals in trains as this would contribute towards passenger safety and job creation. Also more information was requested on the status of the process in smaller provinces.

Mr Ngutshane pointed out that the train system in the Eastern Cape served as a model to the rest of the country of a well-functioning and safe system. The idea was to have the police be accountable for the overall safety and security of the long-distance trains. For this purpose, technology would be utilised by deploying mobile units in each region.

Mr Mkongi raised the importance of various signs for alerting the disabled such as deaf people of imminent train movement, particularly when it stopped and moved.

Mr Ngutshane said that marshals would be placed at each train station in addition to the whistleblowers to alert people of the train movement. Marshals would be in charge of signaling when the train would stop and move. There would also be an effort to include the youth in the training program that marshals would be required to complete.
 
Mr N Gcwabaza (ANC) wondered to what extent the costs for this would be transferred to commuters.

Mr Ngutshane added that the Department had engaged government stakeholders regarding cost issues. He added that there was currently a pilot project for LCD panels inside trains. Shortly, the panels would be available in other regions. LCD panels would inform the passengers of useful information such as news and journey information.

SA National Taxi Council (SANTACO) presentation: Transport for People with Disabilities
Mr Philip Taaibosch, SANTACO Secretary General, outlined three key issues: policy and legislative directives for a public transport system meeting the needs of people with disabilities at the lowest cost, problems and challenges of transporting passengers with wheelchairs via taxis, and availability of resources in the provision of infrastructure and services for people with disabilities. One of the problems mentioned was that wheelchairs occupied a paying seat on vehicles, hence some drivers would charge additional costs. Most vehicles that could suitably accommodate wheelchairs were very expensive and government would be expected to assist. Illustrative pictures of suitable vehicles from various counties were shown.

SANTACO acknowledged the insensitivity of taxi drivers towards the plight of people with disabilities. As a part of the transformation and repositioning of the taxi industry, a Disability Transport Desk would be established to be headed by the Secretary General of SANTACO.  It was emphasised that all stakeholders must come together to address this issue without pointing fingers.

Discussion
The Chairperson asked whether SANTACO communicated with the “Dial A Ride” campaign regarding suitable vehicles. She touched on the significance of training taxi drivers to assist people with disabilities using taxis.

Ms Batyi stated that there was a great need for taxis to be accessible, however due to the height between the taxi and the ground, they failed their mission to be user-friendly. She inquired about a toll free number for complaints to report issues of harassment, bad language and rudeness by taxi drivers.

Ms Taaibosch responded that instead of a toll free number, a new electronic system would be implemented in taxis in future that would monitor such things as the drivers’ behaviour with passengers, speed on the road etc. In this type of system, the safety of the passenger would be well protected as the drivers did not deal with hard cash.

Ms Batyi wanted to know what kind of programmes were in place to empower women.

Mr Mkongi commented on the necessity of developing a training and education program for all taxi drivers to assist the disabled.

Ms Taaibosch responded that the taxi industry was unfortunately male dominated and women were seen as “window dressing”. This stereotypical behavior and men’s attitudes towards female drivers would certainly change as more women came into the business.

Mr Mkongi remarked that there was a need to change people’s mindset to treat the disabled with respect. For that purpose, a slogan that would be placed on top of taxi could serve as a solution to the problem.

Ms Taaibosch said that the use of slogans to change mindsets was not a useful tool. Slogans had been in the taxi industry for quite a while and so far proved to serve no purpose. As an alternative approach, there was a plan to implement an academy of training for taxi drivers. In such an academy, taxi drivers would be well informed about the rules to be obeyed as well as the need for proper emergency kit in the vehicles as an employment condition. He said that they have been involved in road shows to teach drivers about the important role passengers play in the taxi industry and that SANTACO was changing from its historical way of handling passengers. He also mentioned that taxi ranks are under the control of municipalities and SANTACO advocates for the management of taxi ranks to be under the taxi industry.

Mr Batyi touched on intervention and power relations in terms of discipline between the operators and drivers and wondered about the various measures of discipline.

Mr Moss stated that accessibility of transportation started with the taxis. The importance of taxis could not be emphasised enough. Thus there was a need to be friendly to the disabled. He expressed the concern that the taxi industry contributes the most towards creating a disabled population due to its high level of accidents. He noted that buses and trains were subsidised by government and asked if taxi owners can afford to implement the taxi recapitalisation program?

Mr Taaaibosch responded by stressing that non subsidisation in the taxi industry puts a burden on the implementation of the taxi recapitalisation program. Taxis penetrate most remote areas but still remain the most marginalised by the Department of Transport. In closing, he appealed to the Department of Transport for equitable treatment.

Department of Transport (DOT) presentation: Short-Term Accessible Transport Strategy
Ms Angeline Nchabeleng, DOT Chief Director: Integrated Delivery Program, gave a presentation on the short-term accessible transport strategy. Some of the key issues addressed during the presentation included: Legislation, policies and strategy documents on accessible transport strategy, consultation and data collection to determine the extent of needs and gaps within the current system, strategy and strategic options for implementation, current structural design and operational challenges regarding transportation meeting the needs of the disabled, the degree of commitment of resources by all stakeholders, funding resources and a plan to move forward.

There was an ongoing consultation process going on between various departments, operators and metropolitan municipalities. The goal was to review internal responses and align with local practical actions and coordinate the implementation processes through the internal and external stakeholders’ task team formed in July 2007.

Discussion
The Chairperson was dissatisfied with the Department’s presentation as it did not give any information on what it had been doing to ensure that transport was accessible to the disabled. There was no allocation of costs mentioned. The Department seemed to hand over the responsibility to the Bus Association, however, the Department should explain the degree of its collaboration with the Association to ensure that the buses were all accessible.

Mr Mkongi said that inadequate information was given for the timetable of the Department’s plan of a reintegrative system. More explanation must also be given on the deadlines included on the presentation.

Ms Nchabeleng replied that some issues were deliberately left out of the presentation as a strategic point to give accurate and technical information. The dates as to a deadline and number as to costs were not clear. To indicate such numbers in the presentation would be misinformation.

Ms Nchabeleng noted that a reintegrative system would be enjoyed by everybody nationally.

Mr Mkongi also inquired about the Department’s attitude towards taxi subsidies.

Mr Moss commented that there was not enough time at this stage and the Department must come again to discuss the remaining issues. The issue was when would the Department be able to provide accessible transportation.

Ms Nchabeleng responded that the Department could return with a new presentation to tackle some of the issues more specifically.

The Chairperson said that the Department mentioned various challenges linked to accessible transport and the lack of resources and commitment by politicians. However, it still remained very unclear as to what exactly the Department had done to address these challenges.

The Chairperson noted her dissatisfaction with the meeting as there were many issues to address and due to the time constraints, many were not discussed and unresolved. No practical examples were given during the Department’s presentation on what had been done and what had been allocated to ensure the modification of the transportation system. There would have to be a follow-up as this presentation did not meet their expectations. Also all stakeholders and people with disabilities should be invited to public hearings on the matter. A debate in the National Assembly was also needed where the Department could provide answers.

The meeting was adjourned.