Progress Report on Efforts to Resolve RSA/Lesotho Passenger Transport Operation

Presentation to Select Committee

28 January 2014

PRESENTATION OUTLINE

1. Purpose2. Background 3. Problem Statement4. Model for resolving the impasse5. Implementation Plan6. Conclusion

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PURPOSEPURPOSE

To brief the Select Committee for Public Services on new developments in relation to the RSA/Lesotho Passenger Transportation Challenges

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BACKGROUND

Cross border transportation is regulated through legal prescripts;•Cross-Border Transport Act, 4 of 1998 , as amended•National Land Transport Act, 5 of 2009•National Road Traffic Act, 93 of 1996, as amended•Tourism Act, 72 of 1993Additional instruments applicable are;-•Multi-lateral agreements like SADC Protocol on Transport, Communications & Meteorology and SACU Memorandum of Understanding on Road Transport •Bilateral agreements Bilateral Agreements concluded between SA and;

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PROBLEM STATEMENT

• Economic by-pass; - Act doesn’t cater for local operators and as such it over-saturates the market

• Different regulatory regimes in the manner in which permits are issued; to wit , CBRTAct, NLTA, Provincial Acts

• That resulted in;-• Impeded flow of passenger traffic: cross-border

operations terminating at the ports of entry;• violent practices between operators; • Existence of illegal taxi ranking facilities located at

various ports of entry;• Congestion which leads to compromised border control

operations and security integrity.• Non-compliance to provisions of SACU MoU on Road

Transportation.

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MODEL FOR RESOLVING THE IMPASSE

• KEY ELEMENTS FOR SUCCESS• Restoration of law and order• Implementation of verification outcomes• Transition window (Testing the framework

developed)• Legislative review• Special Emergency measures

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MODEL FOR RESOLVING THE IMPASSE

RESTORATION OF LAW AND ORDER•To be a top priority and be implemented with immediate effect; •Minister has already deployed authority to The Premier of the province;•Development of an integrated law enforcement plan;•Joint law enforcement interventions;

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MODEL FOR RESOLVING THE IMPASSE

IMPLEMENTATION OF VERIFICATION OUTCOMES•Six categories identified;-

Double dipping - total of 31 vehicles identified;Leased vehicle - 15 vehicles identified;Shared registrations – 8 vehicles identified;Cross border operators – 27 vehicles identified;Inter- and intra- provincial operators – total

number yet to be determined;Domestic permits with unauthorised destinations

to border towns - total number to be determined.

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MODEL FOR RESOLVING THE IMPASSE

IMPLEMENTATION OF VERIFICATION OUTCOMES•Interfacing the different permit/license systems, i.e. OLAS, CBRTS, e-Natis.•Double dipping - stop practise with immediate effect.•Leased vehicle – practice discontinued•Shared registrations – practice discontinued•A moratorium would be applied to all aspiring entrants until the challenges are resolved

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MODEL FOR RESOLVING THE IMPASSE

TRANSITION WINDOW•Categories 5 & 6 (Inter- and Intra-provincial operators);-

• To normalise those doing 2km radius operation unlawfully in the medium-term,

• Inter/Intra-provincial operators to be exempted from carrying cross border permit,

• Inter-provincial operators to be handled in medium to long term for purposes of engaging operators and acquiring more details,

• Same principle applied in category 5 will apply to category 6 in the medium-term,

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MODEL FOR RESOLVING THE IMPASSE

LEGISLATIVE REVIEW•There is need to synchronise the C-BRT Act, NLTA and other relevant pieces of legislation; 

SPECIAL DISPENSATION MEASURES•The Minister will delegate to The Premier to declare special emergency measures;  •Special Regulations will have to be developed setting out the nature of the emergency measures to be implemented.

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IMPLEMENTATION PLAN

KEY ELEMENT ACTIVITY BY WHOM TIMEFRAME

Restoration of law & order

Development of an integrated law enforcement planPhase 1 : Adoption of Plan

Executive RTI(C-BRTA) & Chief Director : Traffic Management & Transport(DPRT)

Phase 1 – by 30/04/2014

Phase 2 from by 30/06/2014

Phase 2 : Joint law enforcement interventions;

All law enforcement agencies

Continuous

Phase 3 : Workshop all officials and operators on new approach

CBRT & DPR&T 15 - 20 Feb 2014 12

IMPLEMENTATION PLAN

KEY ELEMENT ACTIVITY BY WHOM TIMEFRAME

Implementation of Verification findings

Discontinuation of double-dipping, leased vehicles and shared registration

Executive: Regulatory & Legal Services (C-BRTA)

Leased vehicles & shared registration dealt with from 01/08/2013Double-dipping in progress from 31/10/2013

Transition Window

Systems interfacing

DOT 30/09/2014

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IMPLEMENTATION PLAN

KEY ELEMENT ACTIVITY BY WHOM TIMEFRAME

Transition window

Review categories 2 & 3 for issuing of permanent permits

Executive:RLS (C-BRTA) and Chief Director :Transport (DPRT)

30/09/2014

Exemption inter/intra- provincial from permits

Executive:RLS (C-BRTA) and Chief Director :Transport (DPRT)

As of 31/10/2013

Category 4 – cross border permit holders be allowed to cross as per CBRTAct

Executive :RTI & Chief Director : Traffic Management

As of 31/10/2013

Category 6 – domestic operators -2km radius

Executive :RTI & Chief Director : Traffic Management

30/09/201414

IMPLEMENTATION PLAN

KEY ELEMENT ACTIVITY BY WHOM TIMEFRAME

Legislative Review

Synchronise Acts including 2km radius

DOT 30/06/2015

Engagement of Kingdom of Lesotho’s Transport Ministry

MEC By 31/03/2014

Special Dispensation Measures

As events present

The Premier As and when need arise

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CONCLUSION

• The proposed model was presented to MEC on 16/01/2014,• The proposed model presented to Taxi Operators

on 19/01/2014,• MEC commended the team and gave the

approach his blessing,• Matter is due for presentation to both Freetrans

EXCO and C-BRTA Regulatory Committee.

THANK YOU!

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