Barbara Creecy Pledges Safer, Greener Future for Taxi Industry and Transport Sector

Addressing climate resilience, Minister Creecy pointed out the significant risks posed by climate change to transport infrastructure.

Transport Minister Barbara Creecy has committed to collaborating with the taxi industry to ensure it plays a safer and more integral role in the transport ecosystem. Highlighting the vital role of taxis, which according to the National Household Travel Survey now carry 83% of public transport users, Minister Creecy emphasized the importance of enhancing safety and sustainability within the industry.

Speaking at the Budget Vote of the department at Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Transport in Cape Town on Monday, Minister Creecy pledged to work with the taxi industry to decrease levels of conflict and violence, which significantly impact the sector and its commuters. “Taxis are part of community life. During this term, I pledge to work with the industry to ensure it takes its place in a safer, greener transport ecosystem. We will work together to decrease levels of conflict and violence,” she stated.

Minister Creecy also highlighted the department's continued support for the taxi industry as it recovers from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. She mentioned the extension of the Taxi Relief Fund, designed to mitigate the financial impact of the pandemic on the industry. Additionally, the Taxi Recapitalisation Strategy will continue to address the scrapping of unroadworthy vehicles, aiming to regularize and professionalize the industry by enhancing safety and incorporating it into transport planning processes.

Addressing climate resilience, Minister Creecy pointed out the significant risks posed by climate change to transport infrastructure. She emphasized the necessity of building climate resilience into ports, roads, and rail networks as both a critical need and an opportunity for investment, growth, economic inclusion, and job creation.

“Climate change, as we have seen over the last couple of years, poses a significant risk to our built infrastructure in general and our transport infrastructure in particular. Building the climate resilience of our ports, road, and rail networks is both a necessity and a new opportunity for investment, growth, economic inclusion, and job creation,” she remarked.

The Minister also underscored the department's commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, with the transport sector responsible for about one-tenth of the country's CO2 emissions. She noted that achieving the National Development Plan's target of net-zero emissions by 2050 will require significant contributions from the transport sector. Implementing the department’s Green Transport Strategy will be a priority, focusing on investments in green energy infrastructure, promoting alternative fuels such as biogas and green hydrogen, extending the rail network for alternative public transport, and developing green procurement guidelines to promote low-carbon technologies.

“In this next decade, transport will also be revolutionized by an acceleration of digital technology. New technologies and new global imperatives will fundamentally alter the skills requirements of those employed in the transport sector, as well as open up new value chains for new forms of economic access, ownership, and employment,” Creecy added. Innovations such as operational automation, real-time tracking of shipments, digital signaling for railway systems, the use of artificial intelligence in traffic management, and the introduction of self-driven vehicles and drones for delivery are set to transform the sector.

The department’s Green Transport Strategy includes:

Investing in green energy infrastructure.

Promoting the uptake of alternative fuels such as biogas and green hydrogen.

Extending the rail network to provide alternative public transport.

Developing green procurement guidelines to promote low-carbon technologies.

Minister Creecy's comprehensive approach aims to position the transport sector for a sustainable and technologically advanced future, benefiting both the environment and the economy.