Thesis (MScEng)--University of Stellenbosch, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In an attempt to improve the efficiency of the transport system, the national government has instituted a new tender system for public transport contracts. Small bus and taxi operators are unfamiliar with operating in the formal sector. This study focuses on the extent of their disadvantage in the current tender system and recommends measures to counterbalance this. A questionnaire was devised to determine how much assistance these operators would require to prepare them for the tender, using the model bus tender document as a basis for this. The response rate was 20% with 14 taxi and 17 bus questionnaires being retrieved for analysis. The results showed that 10% of operators had no know ledge of the tender and many needed training in basic accounting and business procedures as well as public transport operation skills. Recommendations included institutional changes in public transport funding, management and allocation of resources as well as the type of education and training required. These changes should be implemented soon enough to ensure that small, medium and micro enterprises (SMME) operators are well prepared for the new tender system. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In 'n poging om die effektiwiteit van die vervoersisteem te verbeter, het die nasionale regering 'n tendersisteem vir openbare vervoerkontrakte ingestel. Klein bus en taxioperateurs is nie bekend met die bedryf van 'n besigheid in die formele sektor nie. Hierdie studie konsentreer op hul agterstand in die huidige tendersisteem en maak aanbevelings oor hoe dit oorkom kan word. 'n Vraelys is opgestel om te bepaal hoeveel bystand hierdie operateurs sal benodig om hu1le voor te berei vir die tender. Die model bus tenderdokument is as basis gebruik. 20% van die operateurs het op die vraelys gereageer - 14 taxi- en 17 busvraelyste is ontvang vir verder verwerking. Die resultate van die opname het getoon dat 10% van die operateurs geen kennis van die tender gehad het nie en dat baie van hulle opleiding benodig in basiese rekeninkundige en besigheidsprosedures sowel as openbare vervoer bedryfsmetodes. Aanbevelings van die studie sluit lil institusionele veranderinge lil openbare vervoerbefondsing, bestuur en die toewysing van hulpbronne asook die tipe onderrig en opleiding wat benodig word. Hierdie veranderinge behoort so gou as moontlik geïmplementeer te word sodat klein, medium en mikro operateurs goed voorberei kan word vir die nuwe tendersisteem.