THE Namibia Bus and Taxi Association (Nabta) is staging a comeback after being deregistered, with plans for a digital platform to formalise and improve public transport.
The Labour Commission deregistered Nabta in 2024 for failing to submit its annual return. The public transport body has, however, recently submitted its annual return, which is currently under review.
The Ministry of Justice and Labour Relations confirmed this on Thursday.
“The ministry confirms Nabta recently submitted its annual return to the labour commissioner and is currently being reviewed.
“The submission of the annual return is part of its statutory obligation as a registered trade union,” ministry spokesperson Maria Hedimbi said.
Minister of works and transport Veikko Nekundi last week confirmed that the association has informed the ministry of its return, but said the ministry has requested evidence of this.
This follows Nabta’s announcement of its reregistration with plans to introduce a digital platform designed to improve safety, accountability, and efficiency across the transport sector.
Nabta secretary general Pendapala Nakathingo yesterday said the association’s comeback will be marked by the launch of the Smart Taxi Association Platform, a digital system designed to formalise and regulate the transport industry, protect drivers and vehicle owners, and improve passenger safety.
He said the association is ready to serve its members and the public.
“You can book a seat and luggage from your phone. Long-distance passengers, pregnant women, elders and students have been suffering from bag-grabbing, harassment, and have been forced to board certain vehicles,” he said.
Nakathingo said the platform would address long-standing challenges in the transport sector, including the arrest of drivers over unpaid fines, disorder at loading terminals, passenger safety concerns, and the operation of unregistered taxis.
“The association plans to engage the judiciary and road traffic authorities to ensure that registered Smart Taxi Association Platform drivers on payment plans are not arrested at roadblocks.
Nabta bus booking ends all kinds of ill treatment and brings back passengers’ peace of mind and respect,” he said.
For safety on board, Nakathingo said all buses will register passengers on the passenger list with their full information, including family members’ contact details before departure, to allow calling families directly in case of emergency.
The platform will also introduce a national taxi numbering system and an electronic hailing application that will connect passengers with verified taxi and bus operators.
Additionally, Nabta-registered members will have access to funeral support, medical aid, life cover and group insurance benefits.
The association said the platform is expected to create business and employment opportunities while promoting a safer and more organised public transport sector.
The Labour Act requires every registered trade union and registered employers’ organisation to prepare a statement of income and expenditure and a balance sheet showing its financial position at the end of each financial year, and to submit an annual return in the prescribed form to the labour commissioner.
Upon failing to submit this, the labour commissioner may cancel its registration or apply to the Labour Court for an order to compel the union or organisation to comply with the order, which may include an order suspending its registration pending compliance.
