Programme Director
The National Minister of Transport, Jeff Radebe
The Premier, Ebrahim Rasool
The Mayor, Ms Noma-India Mfeketho
Provincial Ministers
Executives of the South African National Taxi Council
The Western Cape Provincial Taxi Council
Representatives from the various Taxi Associations
Distinguished guests
Ladies & gentlemen
Over 2 decades ago, the poor and marginalized of our society defied the odds and became architects of their destiny by finding a convenient and affordable transport service for the majority of South Africans whose transport needs were only catered for as an afterthought.
The minibus taxi industry was then born.
It is therefore with a sense of pride that we are all gathered here to re-foster the spirit of dedication that prompted the pioneers of the minibus taxi industry to say - we will be the architects of our own destiny.
This evening is about paying tribute and affording long overdue credit to an industry that remains the backbone of our public transport service.
All available research put the percentage of commuters transported by minibus taxis at over 60 per cent. This is remarkable in an industry where until a few years ago there was very little or no support at all.
Tonight, the taxi awards are our own small way as the Western Cape government to declare our support for the national imperatives, which seek to transform the minibus taxi industry for the better and to the economic benefit of all players.
Premier, Minister Radebe, we report with pride that in the true spirit of partnership, the taxi awards programme was developed in consultation with the taxi industry and underpinned by broad based participation from both commuters and operators throughout the province.
I remain confident that as a collective guided by mutual trust and respect, we will continue to walk this road towards unlocking the full economic potential of the minibus taxi industry.
To further nurture the government - taxi industry partnership, Minister; I am pleased to announce that we have recently established a new Provincial Taxi Office in Athlone from where the Western Cape Provincial Taxi Council will operate. We will officially open it next month.
With regards to the delays in the issuing of operating licenses, I gave assurances in my budget speech a week ago that I will be acting in earnest to remove bottlenecks at the Operating License Board.
My Department will facilitate the opening of satellite offices in the Southern Cape and the West Coast, so that taxi operators in those areas who need licenses do not have to travel long distances from rural areas to the Goulburn centre in Goodwood to acquire these licenses.
In addition, my Department will set up a task force that will fast-track the processing of license applications.
The intention is that no operator will need to wait for a whole day in a long queue only to be asked to come back the next day.
In his budget speech Thursday, Minister Radebe announced a review of the public transport system that includes looking into the allocation of government subsidies to transport service providers.
This will also address the exclusion of the minibus taxi industry in these subsidy allocations.
This must be applauded as the Minibus Taxi Industry has overcome many hurdles to get to where it is today, and this is why bit-by-bit, we must continue to put up systems in place to support this industry.
I am sure I speak for a lot of you when I say, tonight is a proud moment that defines the future of the taxi industry whilst also taking into account the road we have travelled.
As the country stands united in celebrating South Africa's achievements in just 10 years of democracy - the birth and subsequent resilience of the minibus taxi industry despite all odds must surely count amongst the unique achievements of a free South Africa.
Long before our democratically elected government passed the Black Economic Empowerment legislation - the minibus taxi industry was a thriving economic vehicle for the majority of our people.
It is fitting therefore that this evening begins to celebrate positive achievements in the taxi industry whilst also recognizing excellence.
We are raising the bar here tonight in commuter service and hope that the spirit of competitiveness these taxi awards have generated will see the development of new and improved ways of servicing commuters.
I have no doubt that this evening cements the minibus taxi industry's role in the South African history.
We are in fact re-writing the very history books and standing together to say - minibus taxis will no longer be synonymous with lawlessness - minibus taxis will no longer be synonymous with bad, poor service.
As President Thabo Mbeki often says, "the successes of the second decade of democracy must even be more remarkable."
We are under no illusions; we know there are numerous challenges that the industry still faces as it strives to ensure professionalism, safety and the reliability of minibus taxis in the public transport sector.
In fact as a quotation in one newspaper put it last week - "Change is a slow, uphill battle for most of us - unless one of course happens to be the biblical Saul and they happen to be somewhere in the region of Damascus where change happens in one blinding flash of lightning".
Andazi ke if such miracles still happen in our lifetime.
However, as much as we acknowledge that change is indeed slow - your presence here tonight, and your active involvement in the processes prior to this evening have convinced me that we are all up to the challenge of seeing through the positive transformation of the taxi industry.
Premier, I am happy that Minister Radebe could join us here tonight xa sikhahlela igalelo lalamavulandlela kwezoshishino lwabamnyama.
But, what makes me even happier that he is here is that I will not have to answer questions on the government's taxi recapitalisation programme.
To the finalists who have made the top ten - we congratulate you for achieving top spots in your respective regions.
I am sure getting to this final stage of the competition was no mean feat.
We are hopeful that the accolades you will be receiving tonight as well as the awards you will be taking home will encourage you further and invigorate you with a renewed sense of pride to defend the ideals of the legacy began over 2 decades ago.
You can all call me selfish - but I am glad that there can only be one winner in each category because this then ensures that next year we will all be back here to an even bigger and better Minibus Taxi Award ceremony.
It also pleases me immensely that Old Mutual responded to the government's calls by partially sponsoring one of the categories, which is Taxi Fleet Owner of the Year.
Most importantly, Old Mutual's commitment to providing capacity building management courses to the winners here tonight is commendable.
We express our sincere appreciation to Old Mutual, and hope that other corporate sponsors will follow your lead as we journey together to find sustainable business strategies that will take the minibus taxi industry to even greater heights.
Qualitative partnerships with the business and private sectors remain critical to assist us as government to increase our capacity as we bid to accelerate the pace of change in our communities.
My apologies Programme Director for taking up too much of your time - you see we must thank Old Mutual properly because again for my selfish reasons - I want to see these taxi awards bigger and better next year.
Enkosi
