Business Report writes that minibus taxi drivers and rank marshals could soon enjoy employment benefits such as a housing allowance, membership of a medical scheme and a retirement fund, as well as funeral cover.
This will be achieved if Transport Minister Blade Nzimande has his way through the Revised Taxi Recapitalisation Programme (RTRP), which he launched on Friday. Nzimande wants to overhaul the unregulated, multibillion-rand industry, to make it more inclusive and profitable. He hopes to unify the fragmented taxi sector by introducing collaborative ownership and operating models. Apart from optimising profitability and sustainability by introducing economies of scale, Nzimande said his envisaged collaborative ownership and operating models would provide taxi drivers and rank marshals with decent and secure employment, with benefits such as living salaries, housing allowances, medical aid, pension fund cover and funeral cover. Nzimande said the collaborative models would eliminate fierce competition among drivers and encourage responsible driver behaviour and passenger safety. It would also promote training and skills development and help to enhance professionalism and customer service. Anthus Services has been appointed to implement the RTRP, and the company had established the Taxi Recapitalisation SA as its trading entity.
- Read the full original of Luyolo Mkentane’s report on the above development at Business Report
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