Institutional statism: an overview of the formulation of the taxi recapitalisation policy

Abstract

Institutional statism: an overview of the formulation of the taxi recapitalisation policy This article provides an overview of the government's formulation of the taxi recapitalisation policy which is aimed at regulating the minibus taxi industry. Coupled with a brief social and politico-historical context of the policy, the aim is to highlight the government's statist conduct in the formulation of the recapi-talisation policy. The minibus taxi industry started to fulfil a prominent role in the 1970s as a result of a loophole in the legislation of the former apartheid government. It is currently the most accessible mode of public transport and conveys 65 per cent of the country's commuters daily. Consequently, the Industry is an imperative force to be considered by the government in its formulation of transport policies. However, the industry is characterised by numerous problems, including a high rate of minibus taxis involved in accidents, unroadworthy vehicles and violence. It is in this context that the government formulated both the original and revised versions of the recapitalisation policy. However, the formulation of the policy has been problematic. The government followed a statist approach during the formulation process when it directed the course of the process according to its interests and without adequate consultation with relevant role players. Institutional statism: an overview of the formulation of the taxi recapitalisation policy 772 Koers 73(4) 2008:771-791 Opsomming Institusialisme: 'n oorsig van die formulering van die taxiherkapitaliseringsbeleid Hierdie artikel verskaf 'n oorsig hoe die Suid-Afrikaanse rege-ring die taxiherkapitaliseringsbeleid geformuleer het. Die rege-ring beoog om met behulp van die herkapitaliseringsbeleid die land se minibus taxibedryf te reguleer. Die doel van die artikel is om, tesame met 'n kort oorsig van die sosiale en polities-his-toriese konteks van die beleid, te beklemtoon hoe die regering 'n sogenaamde benadering van institusialisme tydens die for-mulering van die herkapitaliseringsbeleid gevolg het. Die minibus taxibedryf vervul sedert die sewentigerjare 'n belangrike rol as gevolg van 'n skuiwergat in die wetgewing van die voor-malige apartheidsregering. Dit is tans die toeganklikste vorm van openbare vervoer met 65 persent van die land se pen-delaars wat verkies om met minibus taxi's te pendel. Dit is dus belangrik dat die regering die bedryf in ag neem indien beleide gerig op die openbare vervoerstelsel geformuleer word. Die bedryf word egter deur verskeie probleme in die gesig gestaar. Probleme sluit onder andere 'n hoë ongeluksyfer, onpadwaar-dige voertuie en geweld in. Die regering het, in 'n poging om hierdie probleme in die bedryf te hanteer, sowel die oorspronk-like en hersiene weergawes van die herkapitaliseringsbeleid geformuleer. Hierdie formuleringsproses het egter nie sonder probleme verloop nie aangesien die regering 'n tipiese bena-dering van institutialisme gevolg het. Die regering het byvoor-beeld sy eie belange voorop gestel en versuim om die relevante rolspelers by die proses te betrek of voldoende te raadpleeg.