Stanger taxi commuters demand sanitiser, cashiers fear Covid-19

As the number of people infected with the respiratory disease Covid-19 continues to increase  fears are growing that stricter steps need to be enforced to combat the spread of the virus.

Last weekend, The North Coast Courier went on a trip through Ballito, Umhlali, Salt Rock and Shakaskraal and found some areas of concern.

Cashiers at local stores said that they were concerned about becoming ill, despite needing to keep working for the well-being of their families, for which many of them are the sole breadwinner.

They also complained that on their journeys to and from work they were not being given hand sanitiser upon boarding taxis operating under the KwaDukuza Taxi Association.

KwaDukuza Taxi Association secretary, Sibusiso Gumede said that they were aware of the problem that some taxi drivers were not providing sanitiser to commuters.

“We are looking into it and urge that commuters report these taxi drivers to us by providing their license plate numbers,” said Gumede.

Last week, South African National Taxi Council chairperson for the iLembe region, Bongani Mkhwanazi, paid a visit to taxi ranks in the region and handed bottles of sanitizer to taxi drivers at KwaDukuza and Mandeni.

Taxi operators were told to ensure that each commuter sanitise their hands.

“I’m scared of this disease,” said a local cashier who opted to remain anonymous.

“I work with many people each day and even though there is sanitiser at work, I would feel more comfortable if taxi operators gave us sanitiser,” she said.

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