Transport Minister amends public transport regulations

Transport Minister, Fikile Mbalula, has amended public transport regulations to accommodate concerns from the taxi industry around regulations implemented to minimise the spread of Covid-19 during a 21-day lockdown

This comes after Mbalula met with the Taxi Council, Santaco, and the National Taxi Alliance on Monday. 

The transport minister said that during the lockdown, transport vehicles must reduce the number of maximum passengers to 70% of the licensed capacity if the passengers are not wearing masks.

According to the Government gazette, a minibus taxi licensed to carry 10 passengers will now be limited to carrying a maximum of seven passengers, while those licensed to carry 15 passengers are limited to 10. A midi-bus permitted to carry a maximum of 22 passengers are now permitted to carry 15, while a vehicle licensed to carry a maximum of four passengers is now allowed to carry two people.

The City of Cape Town says as from Saturday, 4 April 2020, during the morning peak-hour period, minibus drivers will be allowed to travel to the pickup points as from 4a.m, but may only start loading passengers at 5a.m. The municipality says all passengers must be offloaded by 11a.m, and that no passenger may board the taxi after 10a.m.

During the afternoon peak-hour period, passengers can board taxi’s from 4 p.m and must be offloaded by 9p.m, and no passengers may board the taxi after 8p.m.

Furthermore, Golden Arrow Bus Services and MyCiTi bus services says buses are operational with the times that have been gazetted.

Done By: Mitchum George