Tourist charged Rand-a-metre taxi trip

THE vulnerability of tourists to exploitation was forcefully brought home last week when a French national was twice charged R500 for a 500 metre trip in a metered taxi.

The woman, whose husband took ill on a visiting cruise liner, does not speak English and was thus not in a position to query the outrageous fee.

She had taken the taxi from an accommodation establishment on East Central Arterial, in the Richards Bay CBD, to Netcare the Bay Hospital.

The abuse came to light when a local interpreter visited the hospital to assist the woman to complete necessary documentation.

‘This is totally unacceptable,’ said an angry Sipho Mchunu, of the uMhlathuze Community Tourism Organisation.

‘News of this type of rip-off gets around quickly in tourism circles.

‘We will do everything we can to identify the company or persons responsible and take appropriate action.’