NTA pleads with govt to ‘rescue’ taxi industry amid fuel price spike
The National Taxi Alliance (NTA) has pleaded for government intervention amid the latest spike in the price of petrol and diesel.
NTA spokesperson Theo Malele said the September fuel price increases could spell disaster for a sector ferrying around millions of people every day.
An increase in the international oil price and a weaker rand saw both grades of petrol increase by R1.71 per litre on Wednesday.
Diesel increased by R2.76 (0.05% sulphur) and R2.84 (0.005% sulphur) per litre.
Malele says without government intervention, the increased costs will be passed onto hard-pressed consumers, who already spend a disproportionate portion of their salaries on transport.
"If the government does not mitigate, we will have no other option than to pass on the costs to the poor, who are our commuters. I cannot estimate the time of the increase because we will have to undertake processes of engagements with taxi operators.
“It's quite a detailed process that has to take place, so I cannot really tell how soon it will happen. But yes, it's on the cusp. If the government does not make any move, we will then move in that direction," he said.
ALSO READ:
