Mbalula rejects calls for bigger relief package as taxi strike looms
Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula has put his foot down on calls to increase the taxi industry’s R1.1 billion Covid-19 relief package.
On Friday, Mbalula announced that the once-off payment comes with stringent conditions that will force taxi operators to register as business entities.
But the taxi industry rejected Mbalula’s offer, pressuring the minister to add a substantial amount and threatening a shutdown in Gauteng on Monday.
“There will be no extra money from government coffers that I can promise the taxi industry,” Mbalula said on Sunday.
“I’ve spoken to Treasury, I’ve engaged. I’ve spoken to the taxi industry, they gave me a task to go back and I did.”
Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula has labelled the calls for an increase in the Covid-19 taxi relief fund as a 'pipe-dream'. The industry wants more than the R1.1 billion offered by govt but Mbalula says that is not a viable option. #Taxistrike pic.twitter.com/BYaq4PEU6g
— Jacaranda News (@JacaNews) June 21, 2020
Mbalula met with the Transport MECs on Sunday, pleading for taxis to call off the shutdown.
“This is not the time for war. Let’s continue to talk. This is a matter we can pass through,” Mbalula said.
“There is no need for a shutdown, absolutely no need.”
Mbalula added that he is still considering calls to allow the industry to operate at 100% seating capacity and calls to allow interprovincial travel.
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