Question NW2195 to the Minister of Transport
28 August 2017 - NW2195
De Freitas, Mr MS to ask the Minister of Transport
(1)(a) Why is the National Public Transport Regulator not conducting operator technical accreditation regionally, (b) what qualifications and further criteria need to be fulfilled for a person to undertake inspections, (c) what mechanisms have been put in place to ensure that athe criteria are maintained, (d) why is the accrediting of licences experiencing delays and (e) what (i) steps are being taken to curb the delays, (ii) are the reasons for the delays in each case and (iii) are the deadlines in this regard; (2) (a) why is one standard licence with one set of conditions for operator technical accreditation issued and (b) what is being done to accommodate different requirements by various operators
Reply:
1.(a) Presently the NPTR has not taken up all the functions as prescribed in legislation. However, when the volume of applications for accreditations increases the matter will be discussed with the PRE’s. In the interim MOUs have been signed between the NPTR and PRE’s for the latter to serve as a post office for applications to the NPTR.
(b) M + 3 years qualification. Diploma in Examiner of Vehicles or Traffic Policing is an added advantage.
(c) Pre-employment checks and security vetting
(d) Submission of incomplete applications by operators and lack of capacity of NPTR support staff.
(e) (i) appointment of additional support staff is currently in progress. The number of days for meetings of the NPTR for adjudication has been increased. In addition remuneration for overtime payment for support staff has been approved
(ii) see (i) above
(iii) Additional staff are envisaged to be appointed in the next two monts
2. (a) The Operating Licences for all forms of tourism transport services as well as the general conditions for operators is standard.
(b) Specific conditions differ from operator to operator based on their requirements