Taxis in KwaZulu-Natal will be operating at full capacity and long distance taxis will no longer produce permits from Monday, says SANTACO. (Nokulunga Majola, GroundUp)
- Santaco in KwaZulu-Natal says the industry plans to operate at full capacity on Monday and long-distance taxis will operate without licences in the province.
- The body has warned that, if taxis are stopped, it will shut down taxis throughout the province.
- Santaco believes the R1 billion relief offered by Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula is insufficient.
As of Monday, taxis in KwaZulu-Natal plan to operate at full capacity and long-distance taxis plan to operate without permits, according to Boy Zondi, the South African Taxi Council (Santaco) provincial chairperson.
“Taxis all over KZN will carry 100% passengers from Monday. The long-distance taxis should not be required to produce permits from Monday. Should any of these decisions be disrespected, we will shut down taxis throughout the province,” Zondi said in a statement.
He warned that should their members be stopped by law enforcement or traffic officers, they will shut down taxi ranks across the province.
Current regulations limit taxis to 70% capacity.
Relief for taxi industry
The decision follows Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula’s announcement that more than a R1 billion in relief has been allocated to the taxi industry to help thousands of taxis and operators during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Santaco believes the relief is insufficient.
On Monday this week, Santaco took to the streets to protest in Gauteng.
Mbalula said the government was not able to provide more money to taxis.
READ | Taxi strike: Mbalula in heated confrontation in Tshwane, will not budge on proposed grant amount
Taxi commuter Nonhlanhla Shangase from Umbilo said: “The taxi I was travelling in this morning was carrying a full load. They are not thinking about our safety but to fill their pockets.”
Another commuter, Nompumelelo Sibiya from Ntuzuma, said taxis were already not adhering to the regulations.
“You find passengers in a taxi not wearing masks and are talking to each other. If we take a stand as taxi commuters, we can prevent this from happening,” she said.
A taxi driver, who asked not to be named, said: “We have been having a difficult time as we could not make money. I think it is up to all of us to work together in terms of safety to ensure that we come out of this alive.”
