Thank you. Chairperson and hon members for such a very lively and vibrant debate on this issue. [Laughter.] Firstly, to agree with the hon Mzizi, he was speaking in isiZulu, but basically, he was making an analogy between this Bill and a baby and that it needs to grow. So, what I interpreted from what he said was that this Bill is a framework and as we move towards its implementation as practice dictates, we will be able to amend as we go along. That is the spirit with which I want to close this debate on this Bill.
Also I agree with the hon Adams as well for who quoted very extensively on Gramsci. I just want to mention, not Gramsci, but about Karl Marx, who was one of the greatest philosophers of olden times, who said that philosophers have interpreted the world in different ways, but the most important thing, however, is to change it.
The debate has been subjected to various interpretations, but I believe that the most important thing is: What does the Bill seek to achieve? The Bill seeks to transform public transport in South Africa. The Bill seeks to ensure that all the transformation initiatives that have been taking place at a political level to deal with the issues of taxi recapitalisation find expression in legislation like this.
So, it is in that spirit that I would like to urge members to look at this Bill. It is not going to resolve all the problems that confront public transport, but what it is going to do is to provide the impetus to accelerate the transformation, in particular, of the taxi industry in South Africa.
We have reached many agreements with many stakeholders in South Africa. In order for us to implement those measures, we need this framework, in terms of this legislation, so that we can know what the role of the Minister, various MECs responsible for transport, local authorities, and operating licensing boards and of Registrars will be. That is simply what this Bill requires us to do.
As we all know, we cannot always put everything that plagues public transport in South Africa into a simply Bill like this. It is not practically possible. That is why, after having the framework of this National Land Transport Transition Amendment Bill, to ensure that we are able to accelerate the recapitalisation of the taxi industry in South Africa, we will, by way of regulations, be able to put into effect some of the comments that have been made by hon members.
So, I want to veer away from amending the already amended National Land Transport Transition Amendment Bill. We believe that the amendments in the National Land Transport Transition Amendment Bill, as they stand in front of you, are adequate for us to deal with all the issues that are at stake at the present moment. Other specific issues can be dealt with through regulations.
The hon Watson said these amendments are dangerous. They are not dangerous, hon Watson. If you are involved in transforming the world, like Karl Marx said, you don't have to interpret it, as hon Mzizi would say that umkhonto wegwala uphelela edwaleni [the spear of a coward ends up on the rock]. We can no longer continue sharpening the spear. You must make use of it.
That's precisely what we do. The evidence will always dictate to us what we need to do at a particular point in time. If 74% of taxi users are dissatisfied with the manner in which the industry is being run in South Africa, with unroadworthy vehicles and the lives and safety of passengers being at stake, we need to do something to correct it. That's precisely what these corrective measures are aimed at dealing with.
Hon Mzizi, on the issue of tourism, I indicated in my Budget Vote in Parliament two weeks ago, that we have several engagements with the tourism people, and negotiations about a variety of matters, some of which have been raised here. Those concerns, some of which have been noted by the department, will be incorporated as we implement them. If required, we will be able to ensure that the outcomes of those negotiations also find expression in legislation. So, there is no danger, as far as I am concerned, that this amending Bill is going to negatively affect tourism. On the contrary, it is going to promote it so that it moves to a higher level.
As regards intergrated transport plans, as we said, the amendments are intended to simplify the planning process regime to enable even the smallest of municipalities to be able to develop their own integrated transport plans. All those issues have been taken into account and, in fact, there are other initiatives, as the special delegate from Gauteng has highlighted. Gauteng is already thinking of developing a single transport authority. Ethekwini already has one. In the Western Cape, Cape Town is trying to have one. All these measures are going to assist in our further endeavour to transform public transport in our country.
Hon delegate from the Western Cape, many of the issues that you have raised have been discussed in the select committee of the NCOP and also in the National Assembly, and have been taken into consideration. I also want to add, as I have said, that some of the issues that do not, on the face of it, appear in the Bill as amended, can be incorporated in terms of regulations that can be promulgated from time to time by the executive authority.
To the Eastern Cape delegate, Moerane-Mamase, as regards the issue of the transport budget, as we all know, it is actually increasing in real terms - by about 18% over the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework period. We believe that we are going to be seeing a continuing rise in the transport budget because of the challenges that we face in South Africa, especially as regards roads. I indicated last time we dealt with the issue of the budget in the NCOP, that on roads alone, in the next three years, the three spheres of government are going to be spending about R63 billion. I believe that even though that money will not solve all the problems that confront us in South Africa, it will go a long way towards ensuring that we improve the situation.
All spheres of government are going to be working very closely in terms of ensuring that the amendments in this National Land Transport Transition Amendment Bill are implemented. I want to assure you that two days ago I worked very closely with the MECs of transport in Johannesburg. We met to look further at all these issues pertaining to taxi recapitalisation. There is very good progress in this particular regard.
A few weeks ago, I met with the leadership of the South African National Taxi Council - Santaco - from 8 in the evening until 1:30 in the morning, dealing with the challenges of conversion, which is proceeding very well. As far as we are concerned, we have moved to more than 85% of conversions. The critical thing now is to ensure that this Bill, as amended, is passed by the NCOP, so that we are able to go out there, not to interpret public transport further, but at least to try and change it for the better, so that public transport is affordable, safe and user-friendly. We must also build appropriate facilities so that our people can be transported in a proper manner. I thank you. [Applause.]
Debate concluded.
Question put: That the Bill be agreed to.