Minister revises operating hours for taxis and buses to accommodate SASSA grant beneficiaries

March 30, 2020 7

Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula has relaxed operating hours for taxis and buses as of Monday till Friday, April 3.

The ministry announced that minibus taxis and buses will operate from 05h00am till 20h00pm daily. This as scores of elderly people and people living with disabilities will collect their social grants across the country.

“Having considered Minister Zulu’s request and representations made by various industry bodies, including the taxi industry, I have decided to amend the Public Transport Directions in order to accommodate grant beneficiaries,” said Mbalula.

Last week Sunday the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) announced that some of its grants would be paid out on the 30th and 31st of March. The announcement by Sassa followed shortly after President Cyril Ramaphosa declared Covid-19 a National Disaster. The social security agency said the move was in an effort to ease congestion at pay points in the wake of the virus. All other grants such as child support will however be paid from April 1. Mbalula has urged all grant recipients to carry their identity documents as well as their SASSA cards when traveling on public transport to assist law enforcement efforts. He also stressed the exercise of social distancing by all those using public transport.