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Passenger taxis are disinfected. (Images by Alet Pretorius / Gallo)
- Although the numbers have dropped due to job losses from Covid-19, thousands of people are expected to travel from the Western Cape to the Eastern Cape this year.
- Taxi associations say they are taking precautions but need help from authorities.
- SANTACO says it is taking additional steps to ensure its drivers comply with government regulations.
Taxi owners have called on the government to help protect passengers from Covid-19, as tens of thousands of people prepare for long-distance trips home during the holidays.
Thabiso Molelekwa, a spokesman for the South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO), which was created in 2001 to govern the industry and act as the chief spokesperson for taxis, told GroundUp that the taxi industry is not receiving any help from the government. with the supply. of masks and disinfectants.
Molelekwa said that last year some 39,000 people traveled by taxi from the Western Cape to the Eastern Cape during the holidays. Although the numbers would be lower this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, “… we expect at least 20,000 people to travel to the Eastern Cape,” he said.
Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association (CATA) provincial president Victor Wiwi accused the government of neglecting the industry at a time when it most needed help.
“A trip to the Eastern Cape takes about 14 hours. Both drivers and passengers would need at least two masks to ensure hygiene and safety, but there is no government support for this. People want to visit their families in the Eastern Cape and they need to feel safe there in the taxi, ”she said.
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He said taxi owners were paying R150 for a 1-liter bottle of disinfectant that lasted one trip. In years before Covid-19, a taxi carried about 15 passengers, but this year each one can only transport about ten people. [Sanitiser can be purchased for approximately R80 per litre. – Editor]
Drivers at Joe Gqabi’s taxi stand told GroundUp that they went out of their way to take precautions and follow health guidelines, but that they could do more with government support.
At Joe Gqabi’s taxi stand on Tuesday, Sipho Khumalo’s taxi was fifth in line to load passengers heading to the Eastern Cape. He said he had been waiting his turn since Sunday.
He said demand is generally high and taxis make money during the Christmas holidays, but this year people don’t travel because they don’t have money.
“Covid-19 has brought many difficulties. We are struggling to do business because many people have lost their source of income. Circumstances have forced them to spend Christmas here far from their families. It’s sad; They can’t even afford to send candy. “
Molelekwa said the loss of income exposing homeowners to foreclosures is the top challenge reported by its members.
When asked if the council had formulated guidelines for taxi operators and was monitoring adherence, he said: “Beyond what the government has implemented, SANTACO has communicated the policy to all provinces that any driver be found unmasked or drive a taxi with an unmasked traveler will be fined 500 rand. “
SANTACO had patrol vehicles and rank chiefs to ensure enforcement, he said.
Long-distance operators had to ensure that all taxi passengers were temperature controlled and had masks on, Molelekwa said, and that taxis did not exceed 70% of cargo capacity.
“Every two hours, taxis should take a break and allow passengers to stretch their legs and get fresh air. Taxis’ [windows] it must also be open for air circulation. Nobody can unmask during the trip. “
Western Cape MEC Transport and Public Works spokesperson Bonginkosi Madikizela, Ntomboxolo Makoba-Somdaka, said the MEC had distributed protective equipment to the taxi industry “at many events.” He said operators had not raised the issue when the MEC visited taxi ranks last week.
“The visit is part of the Minister’s continued push to disseminate information and encourage travelers to follow the Covid-19 hygiene golden rules to stay safe and ensure public transport operators and passengers are in compliance with regulations,” the department said on December 13.
In a voice memo last week that said she was recording at Joe Gqabi’s taxi rank, Madikizela said it was important for people to adhere to health protocols.
“We have to make sure that the people who travel our roads understand the implications of not following these protocols.
“We don’t want to be forced to take drastic measures, so it is really important that people adhere to these protocols … People traveling between the Eastern Cape and the Western Cape need to understand that our traffic officers will be very strict.”
GroundUp asked the national Department of Transportation for comment Thursday morning, but had not received a response from media liaison officer Esethu Hasane at the time of publication.
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