This is what all new South African taxis will have to look like in 6 months
In an unusual move the department of transport has issued a proclamation stating that all new South African taxis must be colour-coded and look exactly the same within the next six months.
The proclamation, which can be found here, states that:
No person shall operate a minibus or midibus, the date of first registration of which is after a date calculated as six months after the date of publication of these regulations in the Gazette, on a public road for a minibus taxi-type service unless-
(a) the standard colour of the vehicle is white; and
(b) stickers depicting the South African national flag are displayed on the vehicle in accordance with sub-regulation.
These stickers featuring the South African flag may be no larger than 300 millimetres in height and 300 millimetres in length; must be affixed to the vehicle and kept displayed on the side of both front doors below the window level of the vehicle; and must depict the flag correctly displayed as prescribed in Schedule 1 of the Constitution.
The regulations also severely cut down on the advertising allowed on the vehicles and state that no other liveries (paint jobs) are allowed on the vehicles.
These changes apply only to minibuses and midibuses used for minibus taxi -type services, and do not apply to any other type of vehicles used for any other type of public transport service.
Any driver who contravenes or fails to comply with these Regulations is guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding three months.
Taxi bosses unhappy
Speaking to BusinessTech, South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO) spokesperson Thabisho Molelekwa confirmed that government had been in discussion with the taxi councils about the changes.
While the council enjoyed a healthy relationship with the minister, they didn’t necessarily always agree on issues, he said.
Molelekwa said that the choice of white as a colour was to help create a “brand identity” around taxis in South Africa – similar to London’s black cabs.
The bigger issue is likely to be with the revised advertising rules, he said – although he hadn’t had time to fully study the proclamation.
“A taxi is a business product and these men need to make money,” Molelekwa said. “By taking the marketing from us, the government is likely to stop the taxi industry from growing further.”
The Department of Transport had not responded at the time of writing.
Read: Gauteng will soon introduce cashless cards for taxis and other public transport
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