​Sithembile Sithole
MEC for Transport and Logistics Kedibone Diale Tlabela was amongst the guests who attended the launch of “business in a box spares retail container” at the Olievenhoutbosch taxi rank on Wednesday, 28 February 2024.
A result of the collaborative effort between all taxi associations operating from the taxi rank, “PRACZA” - a cooperative - was formed whose priority is to meet the needs of owners in accessing taxi spare parts within the minibus taxi industry. The associations have ventured into the sale of vehicle parts with support of the Taxi Recapitalisation South Africa (TRSA).
“The retail container solution is part of the projects implemented by the TRSA, an entity responsible for the revived taxi recapitalization program. This new company comprises the following taxi associations: Pretoria-Randburg-Soshanguve Taxi Association (PRSTA), Randburg United Local and Long Distance Taxi Association (RULLDTA), Atteridgeville- Saulsville Taxi Owners Association (ASTOA), Centurion Taxi Association (CTA), Zwanani Marabastad Taxi Association (ZMTA) and Alexandra-Randburg-Midrand-Sandton Taxi Association (ARMSTA).
The new venture is in line with resolutions taken at the 2020 National Taxi Lekgotla during which, the taxi industry and government committed to formalise and professionalise the taxi industry. This, it was agreed, will be achieved through efforts to exploit and diversify the taxi industry’s value chain opportunities. Speakers provided a background of the industry and their exciting journey towards formalization. 
They highlighted the issue of unity and taking advantage of the various business opportunities in the value chain. In March 2019, the National Department of Transport appointed AMPUS Services, a company with a mandate to scrap old, unroadworthy taxi vehicles. The mandate was extended to include initiatives on economic empowerment projects or businesses to enable industry’s participation and take advantage of the many opportunities. 
 
Government has committed to fund and hold the industry’s hand with the hope it will find mechanisms to reduce its dependence on the state. The initiative is to ensure that recapitalization is ongoing through the source of funds for that programme. The industry indicated it is working to introduce the automated fair collection, a move away from cash-based collection of fees. It also introduced the TR APP which is a mechanism to assist taxi owners to check their vehicles in real time. 
In her remarks, MEC Diale-Tlabela appealed for the industry’s unity of purpose to facilitate economic transformation and inclusivity. She added the taxi industry should participate fully in creating and growing towards a sustainable economic path.