GOOD Statement by Ricardo van der Merwe, GOOD Saldanha Bay Councillor:
GOOD Councillor Ricardo van der Merwe, the Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Infrastructure and Planning Services at the Saldanha Bay Municipality, officially attended the Western Cape Minibus Taxi Industry Transformation Summit on Wednesday, 17 June 2026.
The high-level summit brought together key government officials, transport experts, and industry stakeholders to address the modernisation, integration, and long-term sustainability of the minibus taxi sector, a vital backbone of the province’s public transport network.
The GOOD party remains steadfast in its commitment to building a just, reliable, and sustainable public transport system across the Western Cape. Access to safe, efficient, and affordable mobility is a fundamental right that connects residents to economic opportunities, education, and social services. Transforming the minibus taxi industry through formalisation, technological integration, and infrastructure support is a crucial step toward achieving this vision and strengthening mobility across the province.
Speaking at the summit, Cllr van der Merwe emphasised the strategic importance of aligning provincial transformation frameworks with local municipal realities. He pledged his unwavering commitment to ensuring that the Saldanha Bay municipal area actively adopts and implements these strategies.
“Our goal is simple yet ambitious: to ensure that the residents of Saldanha Bay have access to commuter services that are in line with the absolute best transport services the Western Cape has to offer,” said Cllr van der Merwe. “Through robust infrastructure planning, close collaboration with local taxi associations, and smart investment, we will transition our local transport network into a safer, cleaner, and more reliable system.”
The Saldanha Bay Municipality’s Directorate for Infrastructure and Planning Services will utilise the insights and frameworks gained from this summit to enhance local transport planning, support operator formalisation, and ensure that local commuters benefit directly from provincial transformation initiatives.
GOOD Vision for the Future: GOOD envisions a South Africa where all citizens can thrive and live in harmony.
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