Transport MEC fumigates Tzaneen taxi rank
Limpopo Transport and Community Safety MEC Mavhungu Lerule-Ramakhanya led a fumigation programme at Tzaneen Crossing taxi rank on Tuesday.
She was accompanied by the executive mayor of Mopani District Municipality, Pule Shayi.
Lerule-Ramakhanya has initiated the programme to disinfect the taxi rank facilities in an effort to contain the spread of Covid-19.
The department said this follows reports of increasing cases of Covid-19 amongst taxi operators and drivers, which pose a serious health risk to public transport users.
Taxi ranks have been identified as hotspots for Covid-19.
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The programme is aimed at ensuring that taxi operators, drivers, queue marshals, commuters and cleaners amongst others understand the health protocols and the need for behavioural change.
The MEC will launch the disinfection in at least one taxi rank in each district.
“We have seen more people going back to work using public transport, we are also responding to the calls from district command councils in the province. The district command councils have identified taxi ranks as spreaders of Covid-19,” she said.
Lerule-Ramakhanya said taxi drivers should know that they are regarded as front liners as they are at risk every day. The drivers were urged to wear masks and clean their taxis. 
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“They should also tell their passengers not no eat in the taxi and to wear their masks until they reach their destination,” she said.
Taxi associations were given saniters and disinfectant sprayers.
Shayi said that through the programme they want to ensure that taxi ranks are clean and people are safe.
He also said that he hopes the intervention will help in terms of compliance.
