THE Western Cape’s Blue Dot pilot project, which incentivised taxi drivers to improve and adopt safer driving habits, could be scrapped because funding has dried up.
Over a year ago, the project hailed as a "game-changer", was introduced by the Western Cape Department of Transport which is now scrambling to secure funds to continue and expand the pilot beyond September. This is when the programme is scheduled to come to an end.
The project came into effect in May last year with a budget of R70 million, in line with calls from the industry for government support. It was seen as a move towards the subsidisation and formalisation of the industry.
Spokesperson for the Transport MEC, Ntomboxolo Makoba-Somdaka, said given the programme’s success and potential to reshape public transport, alternative funding sources were being sought.
"We have called on the national government to support the pilot and provide a funding allocation. We have also had engagements with international donor agencies and the private sector in an attempt to secure their support," said Makoba-Somdaka.
The South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO) in Western Cape urged the provincial government to extend the programme and expand it to include as many taxis and routes as possible.
Chairperson Mandla Hermanus said cancellation of the programme would erode the traction gained.
Hermanus also said the programme’s continuation and expansion would help deal with the proliferation of illegal operators and taxi violence.
"It will be a sad day for us if the programme ends. It will have a huge financial loss to the participating operators," said Hermanus.
Spokesperson for Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association (Cata) Andile Seyamo said there had been a marked improvement in driving skills and compliance to other road regulations.
"As a taxi industry that does not receive a subsidy from the government the programme helped by rewarding good and safe behaviour and compliance with incentives of up to R2 500 a month.
"It also helped with providing training to those who participated in the programme," said Seyamo.
Makoba-Somdaka also described the programme as a "huge success, resulting in a 50% reduction in speeding among participants", while also progressing the formalisation of the industry.
"Last week, Santaco president Abner Tsebe expressed his full support for Blue Dot and committed to engage with the national government in an effort to secure its support for this important initiative.
"We hope that with the support of Sataco, we will be able to secure the backing of the national government for Blue Dot," Makoba-Somdaka said.
More than 500 operators and 900 drivers met the eligibility requirements to participate in the programme and about 880 vehicles were branded, fitted with a tracker and monitored across 150 routes, she added.
Makoba-Somdaka said the programme also empowered minibus taxi passengers and other road users to rate the quality of the service via cellphone. "We’ve received over 27000 ratings to date and on a scale of very good to very bad, passengers rate Blue Dot as good," she said.
City of Cape Town Traffic Services spokesperson, Maxine Bezuidenhout, said the City supported the concept of the programme.
"However, it must be noted that the programme has not been rolled out en masse, and so the City’s Traffic Service has not noticed any significant shifts in the behaviour of (taxi drivers),“ she said.
A driver on the Hanover Park to Cape Town route vouched for the project’s success.
“I now think twice before speeding or driving recklessly on the road because I have these eyes on me – the tracker and the passengers. I have to ensure their safety and not put money first.
“If it were not for the incentives which I also received, many of us would not have been able to survive the effects of Covid-19 on the industry,” said the driver who did not want to be identified.