EFF calls on taxi associations to comply with COVID-19 regulations

SEDIBENG.- The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has asked taxi associations to stop undermining social distance regulations by operating at a 100% loading capacity.
The associations took this stance recently after they could not come to an agreement with National Transport Minister, Fikile Mbalula, over a relief fund (package) for the taxi industry business.
The taxi owners are demanding R20 000 per taxi while the minister is offering R5 000.
The EFF said, “In essence, the taxi associations are punishing vulnerable commuters for the sins and incompetence of the government. This is clear cowardice stance which is avoiding to take the fight to the real responsible people for the taxi industry problem.”
It further said that to undermine social distancing in public spaces must be seen as an irresponsible and direct risk of people’s lives.
“The EFF has, up to this point, supported the taxi associations’ demands of R20 000 per taxi relief package. The EFF has also supported the protests that blocked roads to make their demands heard. All these were legitimate and should have been supported by all South Africans. However, to force our people to be in taxis without observing social distancing is attempted mass murder.”
Meanwhile the public is set to feel the pinch of using public transport, in particular taxis, as taxi associations around Sedibeng increased taxi fares with as much as 25% from the beginning of this month all-round.
“We are in for a rough time, some people have lost their jobs, businesses have closed, people are dying and now this (taxi fare increases). Lord have mercy,” exclaimed a public transport user, when asked about the hikes.
Taxi associations have, on the other hand, been adamant that there is nothing that they can do about the situation as they also need to make profit. They cited instalments that they still need to pay on the taxi’s that they currently own as the reason for the increment