The National Taxi Alliance (NTA) welcomes the proposed roll-out of a single integrated ticket that can be used across all modes of public transport, says NTA spokesperson Theo Malele.

He believes that such a system will create “healthy competition” in the public transport space.

It will also assist the taxi industry in curbing the estimated 40% revenue loss that happens “between the driver and owner”.

Malele says it will, however, be necessary to incentivise the use of such a ticketing system among taxi drivers and owners, perhaps by sharing the potential revenue derived from advertising on these tickets/cards.

This should also help to offset the added collection costs within such a system, says Malele.

“We are in agreement with this innovation, but what is key is to have an educational drive among taxi drivers, owners and the general public.

“We need this system so that commuters can choose which mode of transport they want to use on a particular day and into a particular corridor,” he adds.

“It means that [the taxi industry] needs to ensure that our vehicles are of a standard that would attract customers and retain them. And, even more so, that we attract more customers and increase the number of drivers in the industry.”

The Gautrain has made the first move towards integrated ticketing in Gauteng by enabling the tapping of bank cards to travel on the urban rail system.

With the technology proved, the challenge now is to create fare regulations for Gauteng in the lead-up to the launch of an integrated ticketing system in the province, says Gautrain Management Agency COO Tshepo Kgobe.

These regulations could be published for public comment in “the next few months”.

The regulations encompass a number of issues, such as monthly discounts, subsidies, and zonal fee structures, for example.

“It is now up to us – the taxi industry and the various operators – to collectively agree a fare policy. This is the important part. The technology part is done,” says Kgobe.

Gauteng Public Transport and Roads Infrastructure MEC Jacob Mamabola says the newly formed Gauteng Transport Authority (GTA) is responsible for public transport integration in the province.

“The policy issues reside there – the coordination, bringing everyone under one authority and one set of rules.

“The technology and systems are in place. All we need is for the GTA to tap into that and leverage the existing capacity.”