TRANSPORT Minister Fikile Mbalula has cancelled the ruling of allowing 100% loading capacity in taxis with immediate effect, reducing it to 70%.

There was a huge public outcry following the initial announcement, questioning what impact a 100% loading capacity would have on the health and safety of public transport users.

The Covid-19 regulations initially prescribed a 50% loading capacity, intended to promote social distancing within the public transport sector, but resulted in an unintended consequence of the industry operating at a loss.

‘We took these issues seriously and engaged with key stakeholders, resulting in a consensus of maximising the loading capacity to 70%,’ the Department of Transport said in a statement on Thursday.

The department urged the public and taxi operators to take preventative measures to mitigate against the spread of the virus.

Government will undertake a programme to assist with the distribution of masks, and operators were urged to continue sanitising surfaces and provide hand sanitisers to all commuters.

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