"Having quelled this bout of violence; the only way to sustain it is to institute a Committee of Inquiry that will cut to the bone in terms of illegal activities, the over subscription of routes and other problems. We must assure lasting peace and security; the industry has unfortunately shown before that it is capable of great acts of violence, conflict and disrespect of Government regulations.

"We believe that the time is now to build a lasting base for an empowered industry, safety for commuters, peace amongst associations and respect for the law.

"In this regard Cabinet asked me as Premier this Wednesday to use my powers to institute a 'Committee of Inquiry into the underlying reasons for the instability and conflict in the mini-bus taxi industry within the Cape Town metropolitan area."

"I am pleased to announce that this Committee will start work on 3 May under the Chairpersonship of Advocate Dumisa Ntsebeza, formerly of the TRC and a highly respected member of the legal fraternity. He will be joined by SAPS Director Joseph Makhura and Mr Irvin Kinnes a consultant and researcher who has done important work on the relationship between taxis and organised crime.

"We thank Adv. Ntsebeza for accepting this important task and we believe that he is eminently capable of helping us in finding peace in this critical industry in our Province.

"Our Terms of Reference [see below] very clearly seek to identify what the causes are of violence and where assassinations are ordered from with a view toward successful prosecutions. To this end, when the Committee starts its work, a confidential toll free number will be announced and any citizen who has information can phone us for a confidential in camera interview.

"The Terms of Reference also aim to understand how the regulatory environment can be changed to minimize or eliminate violence and instability in the industry.

"This is the ideal opportunity to get to grips with the persistent allegations that some in the industry allow taxis to be used as a front for organised crime and other illegal activities.

"The Committee of Enquiry's report will hopefully lead to the realisation of the full economic empowerment and employment potential of the taxi industry and will assist significantly in the conceptualisation of an integrated, multi-nodal public transport system.

"We have chosen a specific modus operandi for this Committee of Inquiry that will parallel to its own work, empower the Departments of Transport and Community Safety to conduct their necessary work in this regard without awaiting a final report. The evidence provided through the Committee process will go to a special Police Unit for this purpose that is to be established by Provincial Commissioner Mzwandile Petros to ensure the full impact of the laws related to the Prevention of Organised Crime Act [POCA] as well as conspiracy, in order that we can clean out the industry.

"We ask for maximum co-operation from leaders of taxi structures, drivers, guards, commuters and ordinary citizens. This is our opportunity to build a safe and efficient public transport system in our Home for All."

Issued on behalf of Premier Ebrahim Rasool by Clayton Wakeford on [082 827 8792].

COMMITTEE OF INQUIRY INTO THE UNDERLYING REASONS FOR THE INSTABILITY AND CONFLICT IN THE MINIBUS TAXI INDUSTRY WITHIN THE CAPE TOWN METROPOLITAN AREA

The Committee's terms of reference are as follows:

To conduct an inquiry into:

1. the underlying reasons for the instability and recurring conflict within the minibus taxi industry ("the industry") in the Cape Town metropolitan area, including, without limitation, reasons related to:
2. the activities of legal and illegal operators and of any other person or group that cause or contribute to instability, conflict and violence, and/or gang-related activities within the industry;
3. conduct on the part of any person or group that seeks to encourage or afford protection to operators who provide taxi transport services in contravention of legislation and/or in conflict with conditions under which licences are granted;
4. unlawful or undesirable conduct on the part of operators and/or drivers at or near authorised ranks;
5. institutional arrangements, industry structures and conditions for membership, the role of relevant stake-holders, and shortcomings with regard to the adoption of constitutions, the provisions thereof, enforcement of codes of conduct and disciplinary action against, and expulsion of, members;
6. demands on workers within the industry due to, among others, the saturation of routes and payment of remuneration linked to numbers of trips or passengers;
7. the provision of taxi transport services authorised by both radius-based permits and route-based licences;
8. the provision of taxi transport services authorised by both interchange-based and direct route-based permits and licences; and
9. the statutory licensing application and adjudication process and the impact of the regulatory and administrative environment;
10. the identity of individuals and entities involved in creating or contributing to instability, conflict and violence in the industry; and
11. any other factors that inhibit the economic empowerment potential of the industry.

To compile a report detailing:

Any findings in respect of the above; and

1. Any recommendations in respect of such findings.
2. To submit interim reports to the Premier on any matter referred to in paragraph 1, if and when considered appropriate by the Committee;
and
3. To complete its work and submit a report as contemplated in paragraph 2 to the Premier within a period of three months from the date of its appointment.