The South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO) has committed to continuing its women empowerment programme beyond Women’s Month, while also expanding efforts to empower youth, persons with disabilities and members of the LGBTQI+ community within the taxi industry.
The resolution was taken at the National Safe Mobility and Empowerment Summit, held in Boksburg on Monday as the country wrapped up its Women’s Month activities.
The first part of the programme focused on gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) awareness campaigns at the Kempton Park taxi rank. Commuters, drivers and taxi industry employees were encouraged to help prevent abuse and report incidents to the relevant authorities.
SANTACO said the discussions also focused on tackling verbal abuse and harassment at taxi ranks, promoting female leadership and creating opportunities for economic transformation for women, youth and persons with disabilities within the taxi environment.
Speaking on YOU FM Newshour, SANTACO national spokesperson Rebecca Phala said the issues were discussed extensively during the summit.
“At the back of the 2020 Taxi Lekgotla, SANTACO alongside the government resolved that 30% of all elected officials of taxi associations and all other levels of the taxi industry need to be representative of women.
“So, to do that, there had to be an agreement that certain positions would not be contested by men but rather be left for women.
“It has been happening in many of our associations where we have seen a lot of women emerging in senior leadership positions across the country,” said Phala.
Phala, however, acknowledged that funding remains a major challenge in implementing measures aimed at integrating women, youth and persons with disabilities into the industry.
“It is a difficult issue because the reality of the matter is that the industry remains unsubsidised, which is something that the Minister had to be reminded again of—the urgent need for the industry to be subsidised.
“But in terms of training, which is important, especially when you talk about things such as the realities of understanding members of the LGBTQI+ community and that you cannot impose your own primitive views on them, we have been receiving assistance from many authorities,” Phala explained.
Programme to continue beyond Women’s Month
SANTACO has resolved to continue the programme beyond Women’s Month to ensure that women remain safe and supported within the taxi environment.
Phala said women had committed to developing a plan to ensure the initiative continues throughout the year.
“The women have made a commitment, launching a plan on how they intend to take the work on a continuous basis. So, in two weeks’ time, we will be continuing with the programme in Cape Town.
“Women, as I said earlier, are represented in various structures across the country, so such programmes will be taken to each of the provinces,” she said.
Transport Minister Barbara Creecy and Gauteng Roads and Transport MEC Kedibone Diale-Tlabela were among the government representatives who attended the summit.
SANTACO Women said transport operators, commuters, government and communities all have a role to play in creating safer travel environments, preventing abuse and ensuring incidents are reported.
