The signing ofthe Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (NMBM) and the Taxi Forum signifies the parties’ commitment to implementing an integrated public Transport System (IPTS)in the Nelson Mandela Bay area. A product of intense negotiationsthat have taken a number months, the MoU gives structure to the provision of the public transport service by promoting the establishment of five Primary Co-operatives and a Secondary Co-operative to manage operations on behalf of the taxi industry.

Other provisions contained in the MoU pertain to the negotiated contracts between the municipality and the Primary Co-operatives as well as the Secondary Co-operative, transitional period required to transform the taxi industry and position it for complete and effective involvement in the IPTS, fleet composition, operational plans and business plan for the IPTS, dutiesand responsibilities of the cooperatives, the role and function of the NMBM as well as a guarantee of no loss of legitimate profits and jobs.

Acknowledging the significance of the occasion, Executive Mayor Councillor Zanoxolo Wayile thanked all parties for their commitment and sterling effort in ensuring thatan agreement is reached. ’Through your hard work we can now assure residents of Nelson Mandela Bay thatthe city is on track to provide aquality, safe and reliable public transport for all commuters.We would also like to thank all stakeholders that have landed support to the negotiation process; yourefforts have ensured the attainment of this milestone. The level of cooperation between the negotiating parties is unparalleled anywhere in the country’, saidMayor Wayile.

According to the Chairman of the Nelson Mandela Bay Taxi Forum, Albert Campher, the signing of the MoU is a historic event as the Taxi Forum, led by late Melekile Hani, fought hard for the transformation of the industry. ‘By signing this agreement we are now graduating our operations from informal to formal and this will allow us the opportunity to become part of the mainstream transport economy of the country, said an elated Campher.

Arrival of buses boosts transport plans for FIFA World Cup

The transport plans for the 2010 FIFA World Cup have received a major boost with the arrival of the new Volvo buses in the city. The buses will be handed over to the taxiindustry to operate during the FIFA World cup.Hailed as safe, user friendly and reliable, the articulated buses are 18 metres in length, can accommodate 115 passengers, have a Euro4 rating, have a low floor with four doors on the right andtwo doors on the left, space for two wheel chairs as well electronic and passenger information system.

Commenting before the handover, the General Manager for Volvo Bus, Marius Botha expressed Volvo’s delight at being part of the whole IPTS development in Nelson Mandela Bay. ‘We are ready to deliver the first half of the buses and the rest will be here before the end of the month. The training for the drivers is scheduled to start on Wednesday. We have also made a substantial investment into the local dealership in Deal party to be able to accommodate the articulated buses’, said Botha.

In preparation for the FIFA World Cup, 60 drivers identified by the taxiindustry will undergo training starting on Wednesday, 19 May 2010 and the buses should start operating after the first week of June 2010.

According to the municipality’s Acting Public Transport Officer Keith Mitchell, Nelson Mandela Bay football fans will be provided with safe and easily accessible, special public transport during the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa. ‘With just 23 days to go to kick-off, we are confident that the special transport and normal public transport that will be provided during the World Cup will meet the requirements as stipulated by FIFA, and will be both sufficient and efficient in meeting the needs of our visitors and residents’, concluded Mitchell.

Below is a statement by the Executive Mayor delivered at the ceremony.

Issued on behalf of the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality.

For more information, please contact:  Roland Williams: 0794900009
Luncedo Njezula: 0824528577

Statement by Executive Mayor

· Indeed a historic occasion.

· This is a culmination of a process that started with the Reconstruction & Development programme (RDP) of the ANC and its Alliance partners way back in 1993.

· It is little wonder that the ANC and the Alliance is still playing a leading role in ensuring a better life for all through the provision of a public transport system that is integrated, safe, reliable and affordable.

· Then, as is the case now, the ANC had inherited a non-existent public transport system from the Apartheid regime, which neglected public transport for the people.

· This led to the emergence of the taxi industry as an informal sector, deprived of the normal economic protection had they been fully integrated into the formal economy.

· The ANC responded to the social and transformation needs of our people, and developed a truly integrated system.

· Through this development, we are ensuring the empowerment of those previously marginalized socially and economically.

· Most importantly we are providing our people with an integrated transport system.

· Most of the marginalized in this country do not enjoy the luxury of private vehicles – these are the workers, pensioners, domestic workers, children, and commuters in general.

· In this respect, we would like to thank them for their patience with us as the negotiations and discussions hit turbulent times.

· When two elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers, and we know that our people have suffered over the protracted discussions – for this we would like to thank them for their patience.

· Also like to thank the role played by ECSECC.

· We have now arisen from these challenges with a commitment to a shared vision and consultation and dialogue, and mutual respect.

· Most importantly, we all subordinate ourselves to the commuters, the pensioners, the workers and the children who are the chief beneficiaries of the integrated public transport system.

· At all material times, true leaders must show maturity, discipline and positive and constructive leadership, so that we all, as leaders, subordinate ourselves to serve the poor, the marginalised, and the unemployed.

· We would like to thank our partners in this venture, Algoa Bus company and the Taxi Forum.

· We also acknowledge the role played by the late Melekile Hani, who sadly could not be with us today – a day that he worked hard for.

· We know that other centres in South Africa, continue to experience challenges in reaching such a shared vision and commitment – we would like to believe that ours can serve as the benchmark and a case study for others to model and emulate.

· In conclusion, by delivering this integrated public transport system that is safe, affordable and reliable, we are heeding and implementing our President’s call to do things differently and to ensure that we work together to speed up effective servce delivery to the people.

· Forward to a united, caring, non-racist and non-sexist society!

CLLR ZANOXOLO WAYILE

EXECUTIVE MAYOR