Question NW1346 to the Minister of Transport
12 May 2022 - NW1346
Herron, Mr BN to ask the Minister of Transport
Given that at present minibus taxis can be regarded as the backbone of public transport in South African towns and cities and noting that minibus taxi owners are struggling to obtain operating licences in the current supply and demand model being implemented by planning authorities, (a) does he intend to improve access to operating licences for the minibus taxi industry and (b) how does he intend to meet workers’ travel demands through the supply of operating licences?
Reply:
a) The issuance of the operating license function does not rest with the Minister of Transport. It is a function that falls within the competencies of the Provincial Regulatory Entities (PREs) and Planning Authorities, that is municipalities. Section 36(1) of the National Land Transport Act No. 5 of 2009 (the Act) requires all municipalities to prepare Integrated Transport Plans (ITP). Furthermore, the Act requires all applications for operating licences to be referred to municipalities for their comments and inputs as planning authorities. Municipalities must indicate whether there is a need for service on the route or routes or in the area or areas in terms of its integrated transport plans. If there is a need for such a service, the municipality can direct a PRE to proceed with granting an operating licence.
If a PRE based on the response from the planning authority does not support the issuance of an operating license, in most instances, it is as a result of oversaturation in a route, as determined through the ITP.
b) As indicated above, all applications for operating licences must be based on an ITP developed by a planning authorities. Integrated Transport Plans are data driven and evidence based and hence critical in informing the supply and demand model. An operator who is dissatisfied with the outcome of the application process for an operating license, they can appeal the decision of the PRE with the Transport Appeals Tribunal.