Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula has made a U-turn on a decision to allow minibus taxis to carry 100% loads provided they supply passengers with masks and gloves to curb the spread of coronavirus.
Yesterday Mbalula caved into pressure by the industry and increased the number of passengers taxis could carry and extended operating hours, after taxi bosses protested that the lockdown regulations were hurting their business.
But last night Mbalula made an about turn after outrage over his decision to make concessions, as they would undermine social distancing, which was at the heart of the country’s fight against the spread of the global pandemic.
Initially, minibus taxis were only allowed to carry 50% loads to transport essential services workers between 5am and 9am and 16h00pm and 20h00pm.
The SA National Taxi Council (Santaco) and the National Taxi Alliance (NTA) threatened a national shutdown, forcing Mbalula to increase the loading percentage to 70% and changing operating hours to start at 5am to 10am in the morning and 1pm to 9pm at night.
“After our announcement of catering for 100%, there was a public outcry about the impact of such an arrangement to the health safety of public transport users. We took these issues serious and engaged with key stakeholders, resulting in a consensus of maximizing the loading capacity to 70%,” the department said in a statement.
“The ministry and the department have since reviewed this measure and will only apply a 70% loading capacity for Minibus taxis. The Minister has therefore rescinded the Direction allowing 100% loading capacity for taxis with immediate effect,” the statement added.
The department said new regulations would be published “in due course”.
