Durban minibus taxi drivers claimed they were not benefiting from the “Moja Cruise” taxi incentive programme, which cost taxpayers millions of rand.
The Public Transport Service Improvement Incentives Programme for Minibus Taxi (MBT) operators in the city was launched in October, 2017 and initiated by eThekwini Transport Authority (ETA), branding it “Moja Cruise”.
The Daily News accompanied the DA to several taxi ranks and also went on a drive in one of the branded taxis between Durban City Hall and North Beach.
The Daily News found that some of the minibus taxis with the branding had cracked windscreens and torn passenger seats. A driver who spoke on condition of anonymity on the North Beach and casino route said his job at one particular company was not secure and he could drive for many taxi owners in the space of three months. He has been a driver for more than four years and has never received any incentive, nor was he aware of the programme or how it worked.
More than eight taxis only had branding on their roofs and nothing in the interior to inform passengers of the programme or how they could rate driver performance.
None of the drivers displayed their names inside the taxi. Other Durban taxi drivers said when the project was launched, they were told to hand their bosses copies of their drivers’ licences. Most of them went for driver training three times, but had never received an incentive. The seats were no different from those in unbranded taxis.
In a report, ETA head Thami Manyathi said tracking devices were installed in taxis as part of the programme. Some of the criteria were for vehicles to be roadworthy, for an employment contract, and letter of recommendation from the association for the driver.
The pilot phase incentives were R1 000 to owners; R5 000 to associations; R8 000 to regions and drivers per region; R3 000 for a winner; R1 500 for the runner-up; and R30 000 for the driver of the year.
By June, 2019 500 taxis had signed up for the programme. The report stated that the City had paid a total of R16.5 million between the 2018/2019 and 2021/2022 financial years.
Manyathi explained in the report that the regional councils and associations co-ordinate the recruitment of operators to participate in the project and ensure that the participating vehicles comply with the City’s standards for the project.
In addition, they are a liaison link between the City project team and the participating operators for the co-ordination of vehicles requiring branding and fitment of the tracking system, as well as the ongoing resolution of issues that may arise.
Manyathi said the city entered into a memorandum of agreement with an existing non-profit organisation (NPO) – Durban Green Corridors – in November, 2018 to facilitate the implementation of the programme.
He added that a total of 500 drivers and 337 owners were trained and upskilled through the NPO. For the overall project management, co-ordination, training and branding of all participating vehicles in the Durban Green Corridors was paid R14.9m.
Manyathi acknowledged that due to the breakdown in the relationship between the ETA and industry leadership, the overall performance and image of the programme had suffered. Manyathi also said some of the earlier gains in driver performance had been eroded.
The City budget for the implementation of the incentive programme is set to cost R74m at the end of 2023/2024 financial year.
The DA’s eThekwini caucus leader Thabani Mthethwa said he had written to city manager Musa Mbhele to request an investigation into the programme.
“The oversight has clearly shown contradicting evidence on the issue of drivers being given proper employment contracts. It is explicitly clear that many are not benefiting from this initiative,” he said.
Daily News