WATCH: Lockdown adversely affects public transport and commuters
In light of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement of the country’s 21 days of lockdown, this has left many Alberton taxi drivers and their commuters frustrated.
Lockdown has left many Alberton taxi drivers and their commuters frustrated and worried.
Despite the lockdown being implemented as a means to curb the spread of Covid-19, taxi drivers claim that this has had a negative impact on their industry.
The taxi industry has reportedly been provided with regulations to manage them in operating during the lockdown period.
According to Dumisani Ntombela, a taxi driver who transports commuters going to Thokoza and surrounding areas, he said the regulations made it hard for them to operate.
“Since the lockdown started we are battling to make ends meet as we are now required to carry 10 passengers per load. We have to follow strict rules and can only operate in the morning till 10am and again from 4pm onwards. Any taxi seen moving around during the day will be impounded,” said Ntombela.
He said not only are they affected, but commuters are the ones to be mostly affected since they have to wait for hours till a taxi starts moving again.
WATCH: A video of a nine-months pregnant commuter expressing her concerns
“My main concern is the elderly and frail. We have seen them get to the taxi rank immediately after 10am and wait until we start operating again at 4pm. This worries me because some need medication and this becomes a health risk for them,” he said.
He appealed to the government to at least allow them to operate during the day because of the competitive nature of their industry.
The RECORD spoke to Nompumelelo Lechesa, one of the affected commuters, who is also nine months pregnant, and she expressed her concern.
“Everyone is unhappy because we don’t have transport and we mostly rely on taxis. I’m a pregnant woman who is about to give birth and this has greatly inconvenienced me. We would like our government to provide a solution on this critical situation because we need transport daily,” she said.
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