KZN taxi drivers to graduate

2003-06-14 14:51

Durban - Following extensive training of 150 taxi drivers and 150 taxi owners in the KwaZulu-Natal region, there have been no reports of accidents or serious incidents involving the members of the group, a provincial spokesperson said on Saturday.

S'bu Ndebele, Transport MEC for KZN, said the department had invested R1.2m in a ground-braking project to educate drivers and taxi owners about road safety, customer service, business development and management.

"I am proud to say we had 100% attendance and participation (at this course). We did this with co-operation from the municipality and the taxi industry. It is a first in the whole country and its success guarantees we will be extending the venture to other regions of KZN and to other provinces," said Ndebele.

He said since training ended in March there had been no crashes or "horrible incidents" involving the participants. "This is obviously a sign the training has been successful," he said.

Ndebele said a smash on the southern freeway in Daleridge near Durban on Saturday morning clearly illustrated the need for such training. He said a wheel had come off a minibus taxi causing it to crash.

One passenger was killed and another 19 injured, two of them seriously.

According to Ndebele, the driver will be charged with culpable homicide and overloading, as his vehicle was only licensed to carry 15 passengers.

"Road crashes have become almost a part of South Africa's landscape. The Department of Transport condemns these kinds of incidents as they are unnecessary. Passengers board taxis and buses to reach their destinations safely and comfortably, not to be harassed and ultimately killed in road crashes," Ndebele said.

Ndebele said the 300 participants in the driver training courses will graduate on Sunday at Nquthu Stadium in northern Natal.

- SAPA