The disinfectant system for taxis in the West Rand region was relaunched by AGC Retail Technologies on Wednesday, 17 March in Aureus.
This was in partnership with the South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO) and the West Rand District Municipality (WRDM).
Sarel Smit, Managing Director of AGC Retail Technologies said the automated disinfectant system is used to sanitize public transport vehicles in an effort to help curb the spread of Covid-19 among commuters – especially with a view to the predicted third wave.
He explained that the automated mist-spraying device sanitizes and disinfects the vehicle when passengers enter and exit it, and during transportation.
“Eighty percent of the population use public transport each day. The disinfectant system will give people peace of mind as they will be travelling safely,” Smit said.
He said before boarding the taxi, passengers will be screened. If a person’s temperature is too high, an alarm will go off to alert the driver.
“The unit is further equipped with a timer and will continue misting the cabin every 30km/ 30 minutes while in motion and passengers in transit,” Smit said.
Councillor Dennis Sello Thabe, the WRDM Executive Mayor welcomed the project and said this was a big initiative to save and protect lives. He called it a step in the right direction to strengthen the local economy. He strongly recommended that this system also be used in school transportation.
“We need to promote this invention properly so people of the West Rand can benefit, and hopefully embrace it,” Thabe said.
Mahlomola Ratsoeu, chairperson of SANTACO on the West Rand concluded, “We would love to see a big change because we cannot keep losing our loved ones to the virus”.
