New taxis on last lap
2003-09-10 17:29
Cape Town - Government's multi-billion taxi recapitalisation programme enters its home stretch this week, with the final tender proposals for the vehicles due this Friday.
"The best and final offer will see six bidders compete on Friday," said Transport Minister Dullah Omar at a media briefing on Wednesday.
Within the next couple of months the preferred bidder would be made known, Omar said. Under the leadership of the Department of Trade and Industry, a decision would be taken on who gets the tender.
Government had set aside R4bn in 1999, when there were 126 000 taxi operators in the country.
"There are now 97 000 operators," said deputy director-general Jerry Makokoane, who also attended the briefing with Omar.
According to Makokoane, the final bidding phase will determine which of the six bidders had the best tender, with regard to "technical, financial and socio-economic" requirements.
The six bidders, consisting of three local and three overseas companies, were Iveco (an Italian company with local interests), Tata (India), Daimler-Chrysler (Germany with local interests), Gaz (Russia), Kwungchu (Chinese) and local company Afinta Motor Corporation (AMC).
Makokoane told Sapa that AMC was under provisional liquidation and that the department was undertaking a legal process to determine the way forward.
He said taxi operators would be given a choice of an 18-seater minibus or a 35-seater minibus, and emphasised that the affordability of the vehicles would be kept in mind at all times.
"Concerns have been raised about the vehicle's affordability to operators. We are aware of the cost fluctuations, such as petrol increases, and will factors these in," he said.
Makokoane said that they have engaged the national taxi body Santaco (SA National Taxi Council) on numerous occasions to keep them abreast of developments.
"We have also negotiated with the bidders, so that whoever wins, at least 25.1% equity stake should be given to Santago in line with black economic empowerment goals."
Meanwhile, Santaco general manager Reggie Mutsi said they were "glad and excited that the programme was finally coming to life, after all the frustrations and postponements."
He said the department was "particularly happy and impressed" with the equity stake from the manufacturers and from the Electronic Management System suppliers.
"We view it as an empowerment initiative in the taxi industry."
Hopefully by mid-2004 commuters would be travelling in the new taxis, he said.
- SAPA