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SowetanLive reports that Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula has threatened to refer a decision by some Gauteng taxi operators to hike fares by over 100% to the Competition Commission.
The Alexandra Taxi Association (ATA) and the Alexandra, Randburg, Midrand, Sandton Taxi Association (Armsta) said they would be increasing their fares by over 100% because they faced serious losses due to the lockdown regulations. This means a single trip from Johannesburg to Alexandra, which currently costs R13, will be R30, a 130.7% surge. The new fares are due to start on 15 June. Mbalula on Sunday said he was aware of the problems and urged taxi associations to be mindful of the poor when re-determining fares, especially in light of the financial relief that the government was finalising to assist the industry. He noted that current regulations prevented illegal profiteering, so he was enjoined by the regulations to refer the matter to the Competition Commission to assess if the fare increases were fair and justifiable. Gabriel Mataboge of ATA defended the decision to increase the fares: "Government requested us to fill only up to 70% capacity of our vehicles. Government also restricted our working hours in levels 4 and 5. As an industry we lost a lot of money. Through the media, government indicated that it has plans to help us as an industry but that has not materialised. Our members are really struggling.”
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Penwell Dlamini and Tankiso Makhetha at SowetanLive
- Read too, Gauteng commuters faced with 172% rise in taxi fares from mid-June, at EWN
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page