Phillip Taaibosch, the president of Santaco said that they would not consider downsizing passengers in taxis. He said that the industry has discussed and come up with alternative ways to respond to the third wave with the Minister of Transport, Fikile Mbalula.
According to IOL, Taaibosch says that the taxi industry suffered a lot during hard lockdown, especially long-distance drivers. He said that they will continue sanitising passengers and that the drivers would ensure that people adhere to the cautionary measures.
“We have made some proposals to the minister and we have agreed that we would bring in some gadgets into our vehicles. It would be unfair that we should lose our belongings because of Covid-19. I am thinking about the rest of the country but should I sacrifice my family just to save the nation?” Taaibosch said.
Taaibosch said that the industry leaders together with the Minister of Transport would be sanitising people at a taxi rank in Pretoria on Thursday.
This morning, the President of SANTACO will join a high powered team of Ministers at the Marabastad Taxi Rank as part of encouraging and promoting Covid19 compliance in the taxi industry. pic.twitter.com/5wNkN7oiX4
— SANTACO (@SA_Taxis) June 24, 2021
Santaco pleads with the president not to take the country back to level 5
Taaibosch said that the industry is essential to black people, and unfortunately for them, they are always the scapegoats when something goes south — he says that they are blamed for everything and that their efforts are never recognised.
He added that the industry is still waiting for relief funds and that should the country go back to level 5, the taxi drivers would encounter extreme financial setbacks.
“We are appealing to the president to take us seriously and the role we play. He must consider us as front-line workers because we take the same essential workers to work,” Taaibosch said.
