All taxi passengers to wear surgical masks

Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula has announced that minibus taxis will be allowed to transport at full load capacity, provided that all passengers are wearing surgical masks.

Mbalula addressed the public at the Noord Taxi Rank in the Johnnesburg CBD on Wednesday. He outlined the revised public transport regulations in the wake of the  nationwide lockdown which came into effect on March 26.

The address followed a meeting with the South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO) and the National Taxi Alliance (NTA) who registered their concerns on the regulations, which among others forced them to carry significantly less passengers, affecting their profit margins.

Revised taxi regulations:

During the lockdown period, the following public transport measures have been taken:

Taxis will continue to operate from 05h00am-09h00am and from 16h00pm-20h00pm.

A minibus taxi licensed to carry 10 passengers may only carry a maximum 7.
A minibus taxi licensed to carry 15 passengers may only carry a maximum 10.
A midibus taxi licensed to carry 22 passengers may only carry a maximum 15.
A motor vehicle licensed to carry 4 passengers may only carry a maximum 2.

“Alternatively during the lockdown period all minibus and midibus taxi vehicles are permitted to load their maximum 100% passenger loading capacity as stated in their operating licenses, provided that all passengers are wearing surgical masks,” said Mbalula.

“We require public transport operators to adhere to the directives of sanitizing vehicles and put measures in place to give effect to social distancing at all times.”

Minister Mbalula announced that government is committed to assist taxi operators with surgical masks and sanitizers.

He added that all other forms of public transport such as buses,trains, ships and aviation remain suspended.

As the fight against the spread of covid-19 continues, the deadly virus has infected 1353 people in South Africa and the death toll has risen to 5.