BEIJING Automotive Works (BAW) SA yesterday said it will build a
minibus at its new assembly line in Springs exactly as planned.
This after a Business Day article had created the
impression that an instruction to the taxi industry not to buy the Inyathi taxi,
would force BAW to cancel plans to assemble minibuses locally.
SA National Taxi Council (Santaco) chief executive Nkuleleko
Buthelezi confirmed to The Witness that he had advised Santaco
members not to buy the taxi until they had a guarantee about the build quality
and parts delivery.
He said Santaco members comprise close to 90% of all taxi owners in
South Africa.
BAW’s head of sales and marketing, John Jessup, told The
Witness last night that BAW may discontinue the ageing Nyathi, which has
been on sale in SA for same time, but plans to assemble the brand new Sasuka, a
16-seat minibus, would continue.
“There is no question about it. This project will go ahead exactly
as planned,” said Jessup.
Economic Development Minister Ebrahim Patel had opened the BAW
plant in Springs on the East Rand on November 13, saying the factory would
“re-industrialise SA”.
Jessup confirmed that the Industrial Development Corporation,
Santaco and BAW held a meeting yesterday and that the parties would issue a
joint statement to all media later. — WR.
