Dear Editor
The DA in the Western Cape calls on the National Public Transport Regulator (NPTR) to provide an update on whether it will keep to its promise of clearing the backlog of tourism transport operating licenses by 30 September.
Failure to do so will require that greater parliamentary oversight measures are taken to ensure accountability, particularly as we approach the tourism season. This may include calling the leadership of the NPTR to account before the Standing Committee on Finance, Economic Opportunities and Tourism, and publicly explain why they are acting as a bottleneck to the Western Cape’s tourism recovery.
Tourism is a massive part of the Western Cape’s economy. Without these licenses, tour operators are not allowed to transport tourists using their vehicles. It is outrageous to expect tour operators to successfully run their businesses without being able to legally transport guests.
The tourism, events and hospitality sectors have also been battered by the stringent COVID-19 regulations. We must ensure that every measure possible is being taken to ensure that we not only recover to pre-Covid-19 figures – but that we further exceed them.
The DA-led Provincial Department of Transport and Public Works has further written to the National Department of Transport to request a review of the regulation of Tourist Transport Services between the NPTR and the Western Cape Provincial Regulatory Entity (PRE). This used to be a provincial competency, and it will benefit the tour operators of the Western Cape if it was made one again.
In the meantime, the Provincial Government has resolved to not punish tour operators with expired licenses, as long as they can prove they had applied to renew in time, providing some much-needed breathing room while this mess is resolved.
Broken promises and overall inefficiencies are hallmarks of any ANC-run institution, especially one under the leadership of Minister Fikile Mbalula, and the National Department of Transport must be aware that their failures will have consequences.
The DA is keeping a close eye on the NPTR and stands ready to act should the entity continue to fail to live up to its mandate.
Regards
Cayla Murray, MPP
DA Western Cape Spokesperson on Finance, Economic Opportunities and Tourism
