Going nowhere rapidly

Construction delays, coupled with South Africa's mafia-like minibus taxi operators, have derailed Johannesburg's new bus system, leaving the fleet in their bays during FIFA's showcase Confed Cup.

The Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) is meant to unchoke Johannesburg's streets, where private cars rule amid monstrous congestion due to a lack of public transport.

But the minibus taxi industry — which transports millions of South Africans daily — has warned of bloodshed if it is sidelined by the project.

"The BRT will not operate during the Confederations Cup due to the some delays in the infrastructure completion as well as due to the lack of clarity in terms of the negotiations between the government and taxi industry," said Darko Skrbinsek, technical adviser for Johannesburg's BRT committee.

"The intention is, however, to start the operations in September this year."

Essential to 2010

The BRT is seen as essential to the 2010 World Cup when 450 000 visitors are expected in South Africa, with Johannesburg hosting both the opening and final matches.

But taxi associations say the multi-billion rand project will lead to job losses.

The industry flexed its muscle in March by bringing Johannesburg to a standstill in a violent protest that saw police open fire with rubber bullets after roads were barricaded and buses and motorists stoned.

Bowing to pressure, President Jacob Zuma backed taxi calls for BRT to be put on hold days before being elected head of state the next month.

"It will be unfair competition," Ralph Jones, spokesperson for the United Taxi Association Forum (UTAF), told AFP.

Affected taxi drivers were expected to sell their minibuses or be redeployed to unaffected routes, UTAF said in a statement.

"The last option will create taxi wars and bloodshed as each taxi route has already enough taxis on the routes," it said, a referral to periodic shootings over competition for passengers and lucrative routes.

The BRT aims to revolutionise public transport with dedicated bus lanes connecting Johannesburg's main nodes.

The government has denied any loss of income for taxi operators, saying 50 percent of taxi routes will be unaffected and that the new system will create jobs for drivers, mechanics and security agents.

But spokesperson for the South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO), Philip Taaibosch said buses will run along routes that have been operated by taxis for more than 40 years.

"The former government of apartheid never planned transport around the townships. We had to provide Africans with transport," he said.

Arising out of the apartheid state's loosening of transport controls, the unregulated minibus taxi industry transformed into a cut-throat, powerful sector beset with taxi wars.

Today it is plagued by abysmal safety records with unroadworthy vehicles and unsafe driving and often violent flare-ups.

Economist Frank Beeton said the industry, which has also voiced unhappiness at government's efforts at regulation, opposes the BRT because they want to avoid regulations.

"The taxi industry likes to work in a very informal way, without any prescription in terms in what they do. They don't want to be formalised," he said. "It's a mafia."

"We need an agreement from the taxi organisations and the government on the role they will play in the formal transport system. Before that, there will be continuous problems."

In his first state of the nation address earlier this month, Zuma said the taxi industry will meet transport leaders on June 11 to negotiate a settlement.

"We are confident that unresolved issues will be dealt with," he said.