Ftown Taxis To Be Branded

Correspondent | Monday April 4, 2016 14:49

The branding also helps the police and DTRS officials to easily identify and curb illegal taxis. In addition the branding initiative also exists nationally.

In an interview with The Monitor,  taxi rank marshal, Godfrey Ndlovu, 40 said the idea to brand their taxis was initiated by the DTRS after the government eased the issuing of the Public Service Vehicle (PSV) operator licences which resulted in high levels of taxi piracy.

“Since the government eased the issuing of PSVs, many people have been operating taxis without the necessary documents. They just mount blue numbers to deceive law enforcement officers,” he said.

Ndlovu, who says he has been in the taxi business for 18 years, said some taxi drivers with permits to operate in places like Tonota and Tati Siding also often came to operate their taxis in Francistown unlawfully which causes congestion within the bus rank.

“Illegal taxi operators have led to serious deterioration of business in the city. I am optimistic that the branding initiative will deter illegal taxi operators,” he said.

Route manager, Botshelo Lesego, 33 who works in the Monarch locations route, applauded the DTRS for coming up with such an initiative.

“Although the idea is still new, I hope it works for our benefit,” he said with greater optimism.

According to Lesego, when he first started in the taxi business in 2007, taxis used to make an average of P250 daily.

“These days one can work the whole day and not even make P100 mainly because of competition from pirating taxis,” he said.

A taxi driver who preferred anonymity also expressed hope that the new initiative will work in favour of the taxi industry. “There has been much uncertainty surrounding the taxi industry as a result of piracy,” he said.

He said they (taxi drivers in Francistown) have expressed their concerns about piracy to the police and DTRS officials on several occasions but their association is dormant.

Recently Francistown Central Police station commander, Superintendent Lebalang Maniki told this publication that his station is worried by the growing numbers of illegal taxi operators in the city.