1
00:00:00,680 --> 00:00:05,840
Speaker 1: Drive with Africa Milani in for John Maatham on Cape Talk.

2
00:00:06,360 --> 00:00:09,680
Speaker 2: Rebecca Parla is this spokesperson for the South African National

3
00:00:09,800 --> 00:00:15,319
Speaker 2: Taxi Council, joining me on the line. Now, Rebecca, we

4
00:00:15,480 --> 00:00:18,840
Speaker 2: are going to be talking about the commuter talks that

5
00:00:19,120 --> 00:00:24,000
Speaker 2: the various member associations are having because obviously of the

6
00:00:24,200 --> 00:00:27,920
Speaker 2: increase in the price of fuel. But I suppose I

7
00:00:28,000 --> 00:00:32,680
Speaker 2: do need to get your comment on the very tragic

8
00:00:32,880 --> 00:00:35,960
Speaker 2: incident that took place in Cape Town yesterday where a

9
00:00:35,960 --> 00:00:41,160
Speaker 2: group of cyclists were driven into by a mini pass

10
00:00:41,159 --> 00:00:45,000
Speaker 2: taxi driver on Victoria Road near the twelfth Apostles in Barkovin.

11
00:00:45,120 --> 00:00:49,519
Speaker 2: Sadly learning of the death of one London Lakrange passing

12
00:00:49,560 --> 00:00:55,280
Speaker 2: away from injuries sustained in the crash, What if anything

13
00:00:55,400 --> 00:00:59,680
Speaker 2: can Santa could do to ensure that taxi drivers an

14
00:00:59,680 --> 00:01:02,480
Speaker 2: owner of many past taxis, are held to account for

15
00:01:02,520 --> 00:01:06,320
Speaker 2: such actions. Good afternoon, Hi Africa.

16
00:01:06,560 --> 00:01:09,680
Speaker 1: Please allow me to first send on behalf of the

17
00:01:09,760 --> 00:01:15,400
Speaker 1: South African National Taxi Council our heartfelt condolences to the family,

18
00:01:16,520 --> 00:01:21,520
Speaker 1: the fellow cyclists and everyone involved. Now that we've learned

19
00:01:21,560 --> 00:01:24,960
Speaker 1: of the unfortunate passing of the cyclist who was a

20
00:01:25,040 --> 00:01:29,959
Speaker 1: victim of that very terrible incident that happened involving one

21
00:01:30,000 --> 00:01:34,360
Speaker 1: of our vehicles. As you've said in Campspay, we are

22
00:01:34,520 --> 00:01:38,800
Speaker 1: a Santa Quo giving them our assurance that we are

23
00:01:39,000 --> 00:01:43,520
Speaker 1: as a continuation, doing much more work to ensure that

24
00:01:43,920 --> 00:01:47,800
Speaker 1: the taxi industry, through our vehicles, does not continue to

25
00:01:47,840 --> 00:01:51,560
Speaker 1: subject South Africans to act of violence. Not to answer

26
00:01:51,560 --> 00:01:54,480
Speaker 1: your question about exactly what it is that we can

27
00:01:54,600 --> 00:01:58,520
Speaker 1: do to show that we avoid such incidents. So I've

28
00:01:58,560 --> 00:02:01,680
Speaker 1: been following some of the conversations that you've been having

29
00:02:01,720 --> 00:02:05,960
Speaker 1: with your listeners, who have rightly raised concerns about the

30
00:02:06,160 --> 00:02:09,720
Speaker 1: conduct of some of our drivers, who've also questioned the

31
00:02:09,840 --> 00:02:12,720
Speaker 1: role of law enforcement in this particular regard and just

32
00:02:12,840 --> 00:02:16,480
Speaker 1: ensuring that we don't have the prevalence of lawlessness. Let's

33
00:02:16,480 --> 00:02:20,040
Speaker 1: perhaps also say that, as Santako, we've said it even previously,

34
00:02:20,160 --> 00:02:23,640
Speaker 1: that we've got concerns, for instance, about the concept of

35
00:02:23,919 --> 00:02:28,079
Speaker 1: a professional driving Permit a pr DP, which, as the

36
00:02:28,160 --> 00:02:32,000
Speaker 1: name would suggest, suggests that it's a certification that a

37
00:02:32,080 --> 00:02:36,000
Speaker 1: driver gets after having been taken through a rigorous process

38
00:02:36,200 --> 00:02:39,320
Speaker 1: of learning how to particularly drive a vehicle that varies

39
00:02:39,720 --> 00:02:43,200
Speaker 1: members of the public. However, we would know then that

40
00:02:43,320 --> 00:02:45,760
Speaker 1: the reality is quite the opposite. For one to get

41
00:02:45,760 --> 00:02:48,959
Speaker 1: that PRDP, you need to get an eye test and

42
00:02:49,560 --> 00:02:51,840
Speaker 1: things that are very much on the surface level. And

43
00:02:51,919 --> 00:02:55,520
Speaker 1: so Africa one, we are training our drivers through the

44
00:02:55,600 --> 00:02:58,480
Speaker 1: Shopper Mela Road Safety Campaign. We do some collaboration in

45
00:02:58,520 --> 00:03:01,760
Speaker 1: the Wisdom Cap with the Mobility Department but also with

46
00:03:01,880 --> 00:03:06,080
Speaker 1: institutions like the Transport Education Training Authority to upscale our

47
00:03:06,160 --> 00:03:08,799
Speaker 1: drivers on some of these skills that we see being

48
00:03:09,639 --> 00:03:12,360
Speaker 1: in shortage, because then we understand the dangers that it

49
00:03:12,440 --> 00:03:16,040
Speaker 1: poses to society. But we're continuing more than anything to

50
00:03:16,080 --> 00:03:19,440
Speaker 1: agitate for the concept of the professional driving permit to

51
00:03:19,480 --> 00:03:22,919
Speaker 1: be really looked at for our drivers before the ferry

52
00:03:23,080 --> 00:03:27,760
Speaker 1: passengers to truly have been sufficiently trained and understanding that

53
00:03:27,840 --> 00:03:31,880
Speaker 1: you cannot drive in any other way, especially when you're

54
00:03:31,880 --> 00:03:35,360
Speaker 1: carrying people, because it's the people in your vehicle but

55
00:03:35,400 --> 00:03:38,680
Speaker 1: also the other fellow road users who are on that platform.

56
00:03:40,800 --> 00:03:43,360
Speaker 2: It goes without saying, then, Rebecca, that you will be

57
00:03:43,400 --> 00:03:47,040
Speaker 2: supporting the efforts of the South African Police Services here

58
00:03:47,080 --> 00:03:50,440
Speaker 2: in the Western Cape. According to Neil Robinson, the taxi

59
00:03:50,520 --> 00:03:55,080
Speaker 2: driver has been interviewed by the SAPs, but as far

60
00:03:55,120 --> 00:03:57,800
Speaker 2: as he knows, he's not in custody as yet, but

61
00:03:57,880 --> 00:03:59,680
Speaker 2: you will be supporting the work of the SAPs with

62
00:03:59,720 --> 00:04:01,200
Speaker 2: your card to this matter, right.

63
00:04:01,840 --> 00:04:04,840
Speaker 1: We certainly do support the work. In fact, before we

64
00:04:04,920 --> 00:04:07,520
Speaker 1: came on air, was just on a conversation with the

65
00:04:07,560 --> 00:04:11,040
Speaker 1: leadership of the Taxi Association where that vehicle operates from,

66
00:04:11,080 --> 00:04:14,320
Speaker 1: and they've reaffirmed again, like you've said, even in what

67
00:04:14,440 --> 00:04:16,880
Speaker 1: you've just said now, that one will identified the driver

68
00:04:17,520 --> 00:04:21,240
Speaker 1: and are still again committing to help all work that's

69
00:04:21,240 --> 00:04:24,839
Speaker 1: being done by law enforcement to ensure that this matter

70
00:04:25,040 --> 00:04:29,000
Speaker 1: gives the necessary justice. And again we wish for matters

71
00:04:29,000 --> 00:04:33,120
Speaker 1: such as these Africa to give guidance and to be

72
00:04:33,200 --> 00:04:38,400
Speaker 1: prioritized so that it can show other drivers that when

73
00:04:38,440 --> 00:04:42,680
Speaker 1: you act in that manner recklessly, there are consequences to

74
00:04:42,800 --> 00:04:46,800
Speaker 1: these actions. We've seen in many other instances that whenever

75
00:04:47,000 --> 00:04:50,120
Speaker 1: action is taken, it really does send the message home

76
00:04:50,160 --> 00:04:53,120
Speaker 1: to say people need to be incredibly careful on the rules.

77
00:04:53,600 --> 00:04:57,400
Speaker 2: All right, shifting gears then slightly. We know that the

78
00:04:57,520 --> 00:05:00,560
Speaker 2: price of petrol increased by three random six and solita

79
00:05:00,760 --> 00:05:03,440
Speaker 2: as of midnight on the first of April, and the

80
00:05:03,440 --> 00:05:06,279
Speaker 2: price of diesel between seven rand thirty seven and seven

81
00:05:06,560 --> 00:05:09,719
Speaker 2: and fifty one, depending on the grade of diesel you

82
00:05:09,960 --> 00:05:13,760
Speaker 2: are pouring into your vehicle. Obviously, this is going to

83
00:05:13,800 --> 00:05:18,640
Speaker 2: have an impact on taxis and taxi owners and drivers

84
00:05:18,680 --> 00:05:24,200
Speaker 2: across the country. When are you likely to announce increases

85
00:05:24,400 --> 00:05:25,279
Speaker 2: in taxi fares.

86
00:05:26,560 --> 00:05:30,160
Speaker 1: So this is how it works Africa and your listeners, Santacos.

87
00:05:30,200 --> 00:05:33,880
Speaker 1: The Council serves as an advisor board that would speak

88
00:05:33,880 --> 00:05:37,920
Speaker 1: to with affiliate associations alert them that as a result

89
00:05:38,040 --> 00:05:41,920
Speaker 1: of this hike in patrol, which as you would agree,

90
00:05:41,960 --> 00:05:46,039
Speaker 1: is unprecedented, a decision hamphi be taken by associations to

91
00:05:46,120 --> 00:05:50,240
Speaker 1: increase phase. So the advisory has already been communicated. The

92
00:05:50,320 --> 00:05:54,640
Speaker 1: local associations have been guided to if the art increase

93
00:05:54,800 --> 00:05:58,440
Speaker 1: considered between two rand and not above six rand, and

94
00:05:58,520 --> 00:06:03,520
Speaker 1: for those operating longest stances to increase between ten rand

95
00:06:03,760 --> 00:06:08,600
Speaker 1: and not to surpass thirty rand. But their actual announcements

96
00:06:08,600 --> 00:06:12,839
Speaker 1: and decisions then stay with their local taxi associations. And

97
00:06:12,880 --> 00:06:16,040
Speaker 1: the reason for that is because taxi associations and their

98
00:06:16,040 --> 00:06:19,719
Speaker 1: profit margins differ. So one association would have to sit

99
00:06:19,800 --> 00:06:22,920
Speaker 1: down and established to say, a lot of our vehicles

100
00:06:23,440 --> 00:06:26,240
Speaker 1: use diesel mainly if you're going to have to cough

101
00:06:26,279 --> 00:06:29,279
Speaker 1: out seven rand more, what is that? What is it

102
00:06:29,320 --> 00:06:31,800
Speaker 1: going to translate into? And then from there they make

103
00:06:31,839 --> 00:06:36,400
Speaker 1: a determination. But perhaps we should also announce that that

104
00:06:36,560 --> 00:06:38,640
Speaker 1: then gets to be done in such a way that

105
00:06:39,040 --> 00:06:42,200
Speaker 1: the industry does not risk pushing away commuters away from

106
00:06:42,279 --> 00:06:45,200
Speaker 1: using our services if it becomes too expensive, because the

107
00:06:45,320 --> 00:06:48,640
Speaker 1: ordinary su Affricans that use our services are already spending

108
00:06:48,720 --> 00:06:51,880
Speaker 1: too much on public transport. So it's a very difficult

109
00:06:52,279 --> 00:06:55,159
Speaker 1: and delicate situation that we're finding ourselves, and that's why

110
00:06:55,560 --> 00:06:59,039
Speaker 1: a number of associations are still locked in engagements and

111
00:06:59,080 --> 00:07:02,479
Speaker 1: haven't yet made their pronouncements. But in other parts of

112
00:07:02,520 --> 00:07:06,640
Speaker 1: the country, inclusive of Johannesburg as well as parts of Lombobo,

113
00:07:07,160 --> 00:07:10,280
Speaker 1: announcements have already been made and a lot of them

114
00:07:10,360 --> 00:07:15,160
Speaker 1: locally in particular, have been ranging around one grand, two rent,

115
00:07:15,280 --> 00:07:18,640
Speaker 1: three rand, and in terms of long distance it's largely

116
00:07:18,680 --> 00:07:22,920
Speaker 1: been around teenrant and thereabout, so the exact numbers from

117
00:07:23,040 --> 00:07:26,360
Speaker 1: each association. For instance, if you were to say what's

118
00:07:26,360 --> 00:07:29,960
Speaker 1: happening in Cape Town, then the relevant association in Cape

119
00:07:29,960 --> 00:07:33,480
Speaker 1: Town will make an announcement through the usage of pamphlets

120
00:07:33,520 --> 00:07:37,640
Speaker 1: that get put in vehicles under taxi ranks, and also

121
00:07:37,680 --> 00:07:41,119
Speaker 1: commuters will then be given sufficient time to prepare, which

122
00:07:41,160 --> 00:07:45,239
Speaker 1: starts from say around two weeks or even a month before,

123
00:07:45,360 --> 00:07:47,800
Speaker 1: so that they are able to adjust and prepare their

124
00:07:47,840 --> 00:07:48,920
Speaker 1: finances in order.

125
00:07:49,280 --> 00:07:51,280
Speaker 2: All right, Rebecca, thank you very much indeed for your

126
00:07:51,280 --> 00:07:55,400
Speaker 2: time this afternoon. Rebecca Parla is the national spokesperson for

127
00:07:55,440 --> 00:08:00,480
Speaker 2: the South African National Taxi Council, urging taxi associations to

128
00:08:00,600 --> 00:08:04,600
Speaker 2: engage with commuters on the issue of fair increases and

129
00:08:04,640 --> 00:08:08,480
Speaker 2: as she did, share the bracket within which the Taxi

130
00:08:08,520 --> 00:08:13,080
Speaker 2: Council is recommending that taxi associations stay within