The recent furore between vehicle manufacturers and the Department of Transport over the laboured taxi recapitalisation programme has faded away. . . for a while, at least.

The regulations governing vehicles that could be used under the recap programme were spelled out in September 2005. These regulations were to be enforced from May 1, 2006, but this date was later extended to July 1 as some local manufacturers upgraded their vehicles, and importers secured vehicle contracts.

Then came the announcement that the new recap regulations published on September 4 would be enforced immediately and backdated to the beginning of the year. No vehicles were compliant, which resulted in a stalemate between Naamsa, the Department of Transport, and the South African Bureau of Standards.

The crisis was heightened when The Sunday Times exposed problems being encountered with the GAZelle minibus taxis sold by a consortium involving the SA National Taxi Organisation (Santaco) and McCarthy Motor Holdings. The vehicles were labelled as unreliable "death traps".

The transport department has relented, and the motor industry has been given until the end of December 2007 to produce vehicles that comply with the latest set of regulations. Until then, vehicles sold must comply fully with regulations published on September 2 last year.

Meanwhile, transport minister Jeff Radebe will start the roll out of the long-awaited scrapping of old taxi vehicles when the first taxi is crushed at Botshabelo in the Free State on October 28. The aim is to scrap 10 000 old taxis by the end of the year.

The Department had previously indicated that it intended to unveil taxis that complied fully with the latest regulations in October (Transport Month). This "showing" has now been postponed.