The formalisation and legalisation of the e-Hailing sector has taken center stage at the South African Meter Taxi and E-Hailing Indaba held at Nasrec, south of Johannesburg.
The president of taxi organization, Santaco, Abner Tsebe, who also attended the Indaba urged those in attendance to resist the temptation to give in to violence in resolving disputes.
The implementation of relevant legislation and the formalisation of the e-hailing sector can bring a harmonious coexistence between e-hailing, meter taxi and minibus taxi drivers. This is the sentiment expressed by different operators within the public transport sector.
"Other sectors are formalised and compliant. We are the one sector where there is legal taxi, illegal taxi and a semi legal taxi," says Irvin Phenyane, Transport Education Training Authority.
"The bill that has been signed is part of formalising the industry, laws are not there to restrict us. Illegal taxis out there, how do you get rid of them? Legislation, simplified registration process - Samtea introducing all those elements inhouse we were once informal, but we are now formal. We are moving to that inclusivity to ensure your access to finance and education and training regulatory framework," says Sifiso Gcaba, Samtea Project Manager.
