Taxi commuters can expect fare increases

The massive fuel price hike of R1.34 a litre, which took effect at midnight on Wednesday, is expected to lead to an increase in taxi fares.

The ordinary finance committee of the South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) will meet on Thursday to discuss the impact the fuel price hike will have on the taxi industry.

Santaco’s chief strategic manager Bafana Magagula said the council’s president, Philip Taaibosch, has in principle said those taxi associations under Santaco that have started to feel the strain of the fuel price hike can already increase their taxi fares as long as commuters are given seven days notice.

This was done as a move away from binding the various associations to a set date to affect taxi fare increases. This is because when the fuel price goes up its impacts are felt almost immediately and in different ways by the different associations, Magagula explained.

He appealed to commuters to not blame the taxi industry for the fuel price hikes and the subsequent possible increase in fares.

The fuel prices for April 2019 will be adjusted as follows, Mpumalanga News reports:

Petrol (93 Octane, ULP and LRP): 134.00 cents per litre (c/l) increase
Petrol (95 Octane, ULP and LRP): 131.00 c/l increase
Diesel (0.05% sulphur): 81.70 c/l increase
Diesel (0.005% sulphur): 82.70 c/l increase
Illuminating Paraffin (wholesale): 63.00 c/l increase
SMNRP for IP: 65.00 c/l increase
Maximum LPGas Retail Price: 171.00 c/kg increase

Motorists will now be paying more than R15 per litre of petrol.

(Additional reporting, CNS reporter)

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