Santaco, NTA happy with capacity announcement
The South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) and the National Taxi Association (NTA) have welcomed the decision by government to allow taxis to operate at full capacity.
President Cyril Ramaphosa announced on Sunday that taxis are now able to load at 100% capacity on local trips, while interprovincial trips will remain at 70% capacity.
READ: Cope: Allowing taxis to operate at full capacity ‘a death trap’
Taxi operators have been given the green light on condition they open windows for ventilation.
Government has been placed under significant pressure by Santaco on the issue of capacity, with the organisation saying the financial impact of lockdown regulations is too much to bear.
But at the same time Santaco spokesperson Thabisho Molelekwa warns there are other issues that still need to be ironed out.
“The announcement by the state president comes at a time where there has already been engagements that are ongoing with the Department of Transport.
“We will take opportunity with the process that is already ongoing with the Department of Transport to further discuss and deal with the matter of 70%.”
Meanwhile, the NTA’s spokesperson Theo Malele has vowed that the organisation “will try by all means to enforce other health and safety measures in taxis”.