Long-distance taxis back on the roads

SANTACO Zululand Regional Chairperson Mr Zwane confirmed at the Joint Operations Committee (JOC) on Covid-19 meeting that long-distance taxis in Vryheid have already started travelling within the province.

May 16, 2020

Lolo Madonsela 1 minute read

Stock Image: SANTACO Zululand Regional Chairperson Mr Zwane seen educating passengers about Covid-19 before lockdown was initiated.

The long-distance taxis are back in business, but travel will be limited to within the province.
SANTACO Zululand Regional Chairperson Mr Zwane confirmed at the Joint Operations Committee (JOC) on Covid-19 meeting that long-distance taxis in Vryheid have already started travelling within the province, with a limited number of passengers according to lockdown regulations, and they have ensured that all passengers wear masks and that drivers carry hand sanitizers.
The taxi industry in AbaQulusi was applauded by the local transport department for adhering to lockdown regulations in ensuring that they do not exceed the number of passengers and that all passengers have masks on.
It, however, emerged in the meeting that there were still challenges regarding bus services. Even though they are adhering to the limited number of passengers regulation, standing passengers eventually sit down after a while, contravening the social distance rule.

Also read: Taxi industry officials aim to bring Covid-19 to a halt

The Department of Transport said they were still going to find a way of resolving this challenge.
Meanwhile, the Provincial Transport Department has been busy ensuring the effective enforcement of Disaster Management Act regulations pertaining to Covid-19, while most of the staff have been working from home to provide essential services.
This includes the procurement of safety gear for working staff and those providing traffic enforcement services. The work also included the payment of service providers, as directed by lockdown regulations.
MEC Bheki Ntuli indicated that, “The Departmental Recovery Plan is very comprehensive and deals with all areas of work affecting transport services and the roll-out of critical infrastructure in the province. The plans and interventions the department has complied with confirms our readiness with regards to partially resuming critical services, mainly in construction, public enforcement and motor licensing services. Once we have been given the green light by national government, we will be ready to roll out critical services, but will do so under strict lockdown measures. While we understand that providing services is critical, we want to ensure that the safety of our staff – mainly in the front-line services – is not compromised, thus ensuring that members of the public are also safe.”