The National Taxi Alliance (NTA) has declared its unequivocal support for the appointment of Barbara Creecy as the new Minister of Transport.
The new leadership operating under the government of national unity (GNU) marks a significant milestone for the emboldened South African mini taxi industry, and NTA looks forward to collaboration with government and other stakeholders, most notably the Department of Transport to ensure its envisaged growth and proper functioning.
While the Association is yet to meet with the new Minister to unpack its plans and determination in working with the government to develop a sustainable and effective public transport system, Malele said Minister Creecy has been in contact with the national office (NTA) since taking over the Transport Ministry.
Speaking to TaxiWorld, Malele was particularly enthusiastic about Creecy’s academic background and stellar track record in her previous portfolios, most recently as the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment. He also praised her for her immense contribution to the struggle against apartheid.
“NTA welcomes the new cabinet appointment in South Africa, particularly the appointment of Barbara Creecy as the new Minister of Transport. We wish her well and are hopeful that with the Minister being a scholar, an activist and a woman, she’s better equipped as the mother of the nation to help bring the change that we so desperately need as the taxi industry,” Malele said.
He’s confident that Minister Creecy, is better positioned to right the wrongs of the past, most importantly speeding up the long overdue subsidy for the taxi industry.
“She’ll bring the necessary change that her predecessors failed to achieve. We may finally be able to see the taxi industry being subsidised sooner than later.”
Meanwhile, delivering her first speech since assuming her new role, Transport Minister Barbara Creecy during the first day of the yearly Southern African Transport Conference, recently held at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, in Pretoria pledged to work with the taxi industry for it to “take its place as part of a cleaner, greener ecosystem”.
