The South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) says from Monday taxis will load at 100-percent capacity.
The taxi association has also resolved that long-distance operators must resume work without permits.
Santaco’s resolution goes against government’s COVID-19 restrictions and guidelines that stipulate that minibus taxis must load at 70-percent capacity during level three of the lockdown.
“We have taken this decision against the frustrations and lack of direction fromgovernment,” said Santaco president Phillip Taaibosch.
“We are aware that law enforcement will want to impound our taxis. Our vehicles have been impounded since day one of lockdown with a charge of at least R5000 if you want to release your taxi.
“We have complained about this wrongful impoundment to the Minister and nothing has been done to this day.
Santaco says the following safety measures will have to be followed;
- Wearing of masks in the taxis which is compulsory in terms of the law
- Sanitisation of taxis and commuters as they board taxis
- For long-distance taxis, marshals must ensure that all boarding commutersare screened and recorded and that a proper filing system is kept safe.
- Regional Taxi Councils of respective long-distance taxis must be given weeklyreports of this information including taxis that loaded.
- Associations must ensure taxi drivers do not load beyond the taxi’s legal loading capacity.
- Taxis and drivers must also ensure sanitisation at the end of work
