Madam Speaker, regarding the first issue, the Taxi Recapitalisation Programme, I think Mr Farrow is aware that as early as 7 November, that is last week, the portfolio committee was briefed about the progress thereon.
Despite what his colleague, Mr Swart, said during the debate on the main appropriation earlier today, we have to date scrapped more than 11 000 taxis throughout the country and paid out more than R600 million to taxi operators and owners. This means that the Taxi Recapitalisation Programme is on course and is going to be even more robust going into the next financial year.
As far as the issue of bus subsidies is concerned, the budget appropriation is requesting an additional amount because of the demand by commuters to use buses as well. Mr Farrow, you should also be aware that we want to focus on a public transport subsidy as opposed to a specific mode. We want to see a combination of both buses and taxis.
So, this transformation of the bus subsidy system will alleviate some of the challenges that our people face. At the end of the day, it is the commuters who have a choice whether to use buses, taxis or even passenger rail. Our responsibility is to ensure that we create that environment, so that people can have those choices. However, buses still have relevance in South Africa.
Government will continue to subsidise buses because the majority of the people that need subsidies are those that were excluded under the previous system of apartheid. So, Mr Farrow, we shall continue to do that.
Insofar as the last question is concerned, I think the laws of the country have to be applied. There can be no preferential treatment for people who purchase buses.