Virginia Taxi Association calls for speedy delivery of operating permits, taxi financing
Free State: Banji Letsatsi has been elected as the chairperson of the Virginia Taxi Association (VGT) at the AGM elections held at Meloding Taxi Rank venue on the 23 October.
Welani Msi, the newly elected public relations officer (PRO), says the AGM took a resolution to prioritize operating permits as part of their mandate.
“Virginia members have called on the Free State Department of Transport to adhere to the resolution of the 2020 National Taxi Lekgotla declaration, stating that the permit board must take 60 days or less when processing
permits.
“We expect the turnaround time for permit processing to improve. You are one of the luckiest if you receive your permit on time.
Other operators had to wait for a period of more than six months or up to two years before they could receive their papers,” he said.
Msi says law-enforcement officers are harsh when dealing with taxi operators who are found with expired operating permits.
“It is unfortunate that taxi operators are penalized by law enforcement officers who show no leniency towards to found towards those found with expired permits. Their vehicles are impounded, even when the delay on issuing of permits is on the part of the authorities,” he said.
Msi says the association is also faced with the problem of illegal hiring or renting out of operating permits.
“We discovered that in Virgina alone out of 198 taxi operators who are members of the association only 40 percent have their own vehicles, and the remaining 60 percent do not own vehicles but have rented out their operating permit to individuals outside and inside the taxi industry.
When there are important taxi meeting permit holders avail themselves of being counted as real taxi operators but at the end of such gatherings they disappear. This fronting contributes to violence, instability, and governance challenges in the taxi industry,” he said.
“The permit renters buy vehicles and register them in the name of permit holders. This form of fronting leads to taxi disputes as the real owners of vehicles often resurface at the taxi ranks claiming that they have paid for the right to operate. These operators are reportedly paid rental fee for a period of twelve or even twenty-four months in advance in exchange for operating permits.
Msi says all is not lost as plans are afoot to help taxi operators who do not have vehicles.
“There are discussions and proposals from the association up to the provincial level on how best to assist those who are renting out operating permits.” he said.
He says according to the Office of the Taxi Registrar “it is illegal to rent permits, but some do it because of different reasons including their inability to qualify for vehicle loans”.”
Msi calls on banks to support taxi industry.
“Government, banks and other development finance institutions must come together and find a creative way to assist taxi operators.”
Members of executive committee that will administer Virginia Taxi Association affairs from 2025-2029.
- Mr. B.J. Letsatsi
Chairman - Mr. A.N. Mosehli
Deputy Chairperson - Mr. L.S. Kometsi
General Secretary - Mr. B. Litsibane
Deputy Secretary - Mr. T.W. Motaung
Treasurer
- Mr. W.A. Msi
Public Relations Officer - Mr. A.M. Thibile
Training Officer - Mr. T.A. Finger
Disciplinary Committee:
Chairperson - Mrs. M.A. Tsotsotso
Committee: Chairperson
