#TaxiFareIncrease: What Polokwane’s commuters have to say
With a taxi fare increase looming, Review asked commuters whether they will continue using taxis or find alternative transport.
Lawrence Mothaki
POLOKWANE –
Aubrey Mamohale: I would still prefer to use a taxi as it is much faster than a bus.Ntwanano Siwela – ” It’s very difficult as it is, the thought of another fare increase would completely cripple me. A bus is not even an option because I work different shifts, it would be an inconvenience to switch “Tshepiso Nkosi – “I don’t mind at all when the prices go up every ones in a while. But they must not make it a habit because we are getting financially stranded.”Samuel Mashato hails from Mankweng and uses the taxi to get to the bus rank from where he takes a bus home. “There is no buses here, so I need to take the taxi to the bus rank, even if the price goes up, I still have to take the taxi,” he said.Edward Tshitange – “Personally, I’m tired of this. The country should start taking the pickets seriously because we are drowning in expenses. You cant even relax after a fare increase because another is on it’s way. But buses are the worst, they are slow and the timetable doesn’t work unless you work 8 to 4:30”Lawrence Mothaki takes the taxi to the bus rank because there is no bus service from where he works going to his home in Moletji. “I take the bus from the rank, however, because it is cheaper.”Lerato Manamela said that she would have to look at her budget in order to make an informed decision as she is also a student and her budget is tight most of the time, alternatively she says that she would opt for bus even though it is not as convenient as a taxi.“When the petrol goes up everything goes up. Even with my food stall, I need to put up prices some times so I understand. I can not always take a taxi if I do not make money and then look for a place to sleep over in town just so I can save money,” Joyce Mudau says.Tshepiso Molopo: A taxi is better as it drives all day. With a bus you have to wait long.“I only have one form of transport and that is using a taxi so no matter what the amount is, I need to pay it to make sure that I get to work on time. There are no buses where I stay so I need to take a taxi to a bus stop that will cost me double so I just keep on using the taxi. I can at least still afford it,” Lillian Bala says.Mokgadi Letsoalo said that she would use rather just use a bus as it would save her money. “I don’t mind the slow travelling in a bus because I get to enjoy some alone time with a book along the way,” she said.
Review spoke to local taxi associations regarding the increase. You can catch the full story in this week’s Bonus.
