With the 2010 FIFA World Cup fast approaching, public transport governing body the eThekwini Transport Authority (ETA) and the eThekwini Metro Police are once again embarking on an accreditation process for metered taxis, to ensure a decent and satisfactory level of service from this public transport sector.

Once the taxis are accredited, passengers, particularly tourists, can be assured of comfortable travel in a roadworthy vehicle.

This initiative started in 1995 and was initially carried out every second year; however, the eThekwini municipality has changed this to a yearly accreditation process.

The ETA's public transport department: chief engineering technician Nathi Sibisi says that metered taxis operate differently to any other public transport systems.

"The minibus taxi industry is regulated through another system, known as the taxi recapitalisation programme, which encourages the scrapping of an old vehicle and the grant of R50 000 towards the buying of a new vehicle. These vehicles are of a certain standard and comply with strict government regulation," he says.

He adds that this initiative is part of the National Department of Transport working on the development of a strategy which aims to improve the quality of metered taxis in South African cities. "It is envisaged that this will be adopted for implementation in most cities before June 2010."

Sibisi explains that the accreditation process enables metered taxi operators to offer passengers a higher level of service, by offering certain minimum standards.

Accredited taxis will display a green-bordered navy-blue sticker showing soccer balls depicting the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Durban and the Moses Mabhida stadium. A unique number will appear prominently on the sticker and complaints or compliments may be reported by using this reference number, which is valid for only one year.

For a vehicle to be issued with an accreditation sticker, metered taxi operators will need to adhere to stringent standards, which include a valid certificate of fitness and roadworthiness, a specified operating rank and a permanent metered-taxi marking on the vehicle that reflects the company name, address and telephone number.

Other requirements are that the paintwork of the vehicle must be dent free and should not have rust holes: it must be clean and tidy, have a fixed roof light and not have torn seats. The carpets need to be clean and hole free. The vehicle must have a sealed meter and the tariff must be displayed on both doors. Tinted windows are not allowed.

Tyres should also be in good working condition with a spare wheel and fire extinguisher in the car. The operator should have passenger liability insurance.

The accreditation process started on January 19 and will continue every first Tuesday of the month at Old Fort road, in Durban.

The National Land Transportation Bill of the Transportation Act No 74 of 1977 defines a metered taxi service as a public transport service operated by means of a vehicle equipped with a sealed meter to determine the fare payable and calibrated for such fare or complies with any other requirements applicable to such meters.

"There are about four metered taxi associations in Durban, representing over 700 taxis. The reaction from the associations has been positive as they support this project," Sibisi concludes.