EWN reports that Alexandra commuters on Monday were outraged after two Johannesburg taxi associations announced price hikes due to take effect from next week.
The Alexandra, Randburg, Midrand, Sandton Taxi Association (Armsta), which operates one of the city’s busiest routes, said its decision to charge Alexandra commuters R30 for a trip to Sandton was due to the Covid-19 regulations imposed on the industry by government, particularly the 70% passenger loading limit. Hlompang Mokoena, a security guard at Sandton City, said that his entire salary would go towards his transport if the fare increase was implemented and he pleaded with government to find a middle ground with the taxi industry. Cecilia Ngubeni, a domestic worker, said that she returned to work last week after nearly two months of no income, but the taxi operators “don’t even think about us, they think about themselves. How can they increase the fares by more than 50%?” Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula is expected to meet with the taxi industry over the matter, but his ministry said it would be compelled to refer the matter to the Competition Commission if the situation could not be resolved
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Veronica Mokhoali at EWN
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