The National Taxi Alliance (NTA) in Limpopo has said that taxis on the road in the lockdown are not making adequate money to record earnings, and it has had to finance them. Frans Kgasago, Limpopo Provincial Public Relations Officer, states the taxi sector is receiving the heaviest blow from Covid-19.
“We are the most affected because we still have to transport essential workers without it being profitable. There is no one making a profit during this time.” Kgasago also said that they learned the logic behind the limitations and would carry on to stick to them, but they are experiencing the hit.
He further explained that it was, nevertheless, more straightforward after Minister, Fikile Mbalula raised the passenger capacity rate to 70 per cent as opposed to the fifty per cent originally set out.
“The operating times are also killing us, being told we can only load and be on the road at certain times is difficult. There isn’t enough time for all the taxis at each rank to rotate in a day.”
According to Kgasago the alliance together with other owners are accountable for the support and not the state. “We had to decide to take money from our own pockets because this virus affects all of us. If we do not adhere to all the guidelines, we run the risk of spreading the virus which might lead to death and we won’t have passengers to load in the future.”
Also, he explains the single reason why there are still taxis on the road is due to the fact that alliance perceives the requirement to assist essential staff. Kgasago states, they are maintaining all careful measures in the restraint of the virus such as sanitising the cabs and commuters they get into.
He resolved that “Most of these people, as essential workers already have gloves and masks provided to them by their employers which also assist us in our taxis. We do not fight against the regulations. We fight against the virus because if we don’t we run the risk of spreading it.”