Taxi industry on firmer ground

Cindy Liebenberg
THE need to legalise all taxis has led to the establishment of the Uvimba Transport Solutions (UTS) cooperative in Jeffreys Bay.
The idea of a co-op was first mooted in 2008 but failed to get off the ground due to various difficulties.
Board chairman Ernst Sukuli says they now have 56 members and the financial challenges which hampered their growth are now over, and they are raring to go.
Sukuli says he used to be horrified about the state of the taxi industry in Jeffreys Bay.
"There were no structures. Everyone who had a vehicle called himself a taxi and transported people, sometimes even children in the most dilapidated cars.”
Sukuli says they now take responsibility for all their members' vehicles. Members are helped to pass roadworthy tests and register and license their vehicles. They also make sure the owner has a valid driving licence.
"We now operate as one legal entity and all members sporting our logo on their windscreen are credible.”
As part of their social responsibility UTS is the sole sponsor of a huge soccer tournament to be held in Jeffreys Bay next weekend.
The co-op has contributed a whopping R15000 towards the Uvimba tournament which they hope will become an annual event.
"We wish all participants luck and we hope they enjoy the prize money, trophy and all the other prizes we have secured,” says Sukili.