MEC, taxi groups meet over Autopax bus services

Thursday, July 2, 2015

Pretoria – Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport, Ismail Vadi, says the department has held a meeting with the representatives of the two provincial taxi associations as well as taxi groups from Mamelodi, regarding the Autopax bus services in the township.

This comes after buses were stoned in Mamelodi, east of Pretoria on Thursday morning as minibus taxi drivers protested against the introduction of the Autopax bus service.

The department has entered into a temporary, three month contract with Autopax to render services in Mamelodi, Midvaal and Kathorus after Putco informed the provincial department about its intention to cease operations in Tshwane, Ekurhuleni and Sedibeng municipalities.

Autopax, a state owned entity and wholly-owned subsidiary of the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA), will operate the bus routes on the same timetables and rates as previously operated by Putco.

The MEC said the meeting with SANTACO Gauteng, the Gauteng National Taxi Alliance and taxi groups from Mamelodi was “extremely constructive”.

He said both the department and the collective leadership of the taxi associations provincially and regionally have agreed to keep the door open for further consultations and engagements on the matters at hand.

Both the department and Autopax have assured commuters that bus services will continue to be provided in terms of the three month, interim contracts that have been signed between them.

“Our primary responsibility is to ensure continuity of public transport services to commuters and their safety, not just in Mamelodi but throughout the province. For government the interests and needs of commuters are paramount,” said MEC Vadi.

He indicated that the Labour Court has reserved judgment in the legal dispute between Putco, South African Transport Workers’ Union, Autopax and the department. This relates to whether or not Autopax is obligated to take over Putco employees that worked on the tendered contracts. – SAnews.gov.za