Zuma puts brakes on new transport scheme

Creation date: 30 April 2009

Jacob Zuma has put the world-class Bus Rapid Transit system on ice pending further talks after taxi drivers threatened an election day strike.

Zuma said he did not realise how serious the objections from taxi bosses were until they went on strike last month and came to the ANC's office to hand him a memorandum.

The strike, which turned violent in places, left thousands stranded.

"I am happy that the issue has been clarified. This industry has a responsibility to protect our hard-fought democratic gains," said Zuma.

The first phase of the bus system was due to kick off in Joburg in June, in time for the Fifa Confederations Cup, with a major chunk complete for the Fifa 2010 World Cup and final completion by 2014.

Taxi drivers on Monday promised in return they would not disrupt the elections by striking or refusing to ferry passengers to polling booths.

"Many of your colleagues participated in the struggle when they transported our cadres in and out of the country, risking detention and police harassment.

"As I have said during the campaign, you must purchase enough petrol to ensure that our people are ferried to the voting stations," Zuma said.

He said it was in the interests of taxi operators for the ANC to get an overwhelming majority because that meant the ruling party would be in a better position to resolve the many problems faced by the industry.

The secretary-general of the South African National Taxi Council (Santaco), Philip Taaibosch, told a summit of taxi bosses, government representatives and Zuma in Midrand on Monday that taxi drivers and operators were "going to vote on Wednesday".

The council's training officer, Kagiso Thiba, said only "lunatics" would not vote. "Our God has said to us to carry voters to the voting station, and that is our business. And if we don't do that, we will be punished."

Threats of taxi strikes on polling day were sparked by the industry's unhappiness over government plans to build Bus Rapid Transit systems in the major cities, based on fears of lost jobs and income.

Transport Minister Jeff Radebe told the summit on Monday that the government wanted to work with the taxi industry.

"Government guarantees no loss of legitimate jobs and profits among those who make the shift into the Bus Rapid Transit systems."

Santaco president Andrew Mthembu called for the government to halt the Bus Rapid Transit system completely.

Source: http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=181&art_id=vn20090421050457219C399827