POLOKWANE – The South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) recently announced that taxi fare increase will take effect as of 18 August. The National Taxi Alliance (NTA) also confirmed they will increase the taxi prices.
Comfort Lekgothoane, NTA Spokesperson, said although they understand the plight of commuters, it’s inevitable that the taxi fare will increase as a result of the petrol hikes that have been taking place since the beginning of the year.
Read more: #TaxiFareIncrease: What Polokwane’s commuters have to say
“The increase is to help the taxis to break even. Another taxi increase will mean that taxis are running at a loss if the taxi price remains as it is at present,” he explained.
This is a result of another impending petrol hike. Lekgothoane explained the increase is not something determined by alliances alone. The various taxi associations will meet and determine when and by how much the taxi price will increase.
“The petrol increase in August will contribute to the amount which the fares will increase. Following the petrol increase the respective taxi associations will work out the amount by which the taxi fare will increase,” he said.
This will see commuters digging deeper into their pockets for long and short distance commutes.
Tiisetso Mabasa is a concerned commuter who takes two taxis to get to work. Mabasa says the taxi fare increase will dig into her already empty pocket.
“It is getting overwhelming because the cost of everything is going up all at once. On that same page, while everything is increasing, our salaries are not and tell me how we are expected to survive. These days, money goes out of the purse faster than it comes in,” she said.
Ntwanano Siwela shared the same sentiments adding the taxi fare increase will take away from household necessities she can’t really do without but will have to. She added using a bus is not an option due to the fixed times they operate. “It’s very difficult as it is. The thought of a fare increase would completely cripple me.
“A bus is not even an option because I work different shifts and it would be an inconvenience to switch. People will resort to protesting against the abnormal rate at which prices are inflating. I personally am tired of this. The country should start taking the picketers seriously because we are drowning in expenses.”
