Minister of Transport, Fikile Mbalula is set to provide an update on public transport regulations at the MTN Taxi Rank today, 1 April 2020.
The Department of Transport has announced the scheduled address by Minister Fikile Mbalula, in which he will provide an update on public transport regulations, today, 1 April 2020. The address will take place at the MTN Taxi Rank in Johannesburg at 14:00. The announcement stated, “The Minister of Transportation, Mr Fikile Mbalula has been engaging the taxi industry on a variety of issues related to the lockdown regulations. Minister Mbalula will today address the public on these issues.”
The call for action by Fikile Mbalula was prompted by the taxi industry’s threat to initiate a nationwide strike against the stringent rules imposed on the industry for the duration of the national lockdown. Taxi owners and drivers lamented the loss of income, which would be as a result of not being able to fill their taxis to capacity.
Following lengthy discussions on Tuesday, 31 March 2020, the South African National Taxi Association (SANTACO) committed to halting any form of strike action, and showed support for the government’s rules and regulations. Minister Mbalula is expected to address all these concerns later today.
See the announcement post below.
Minister @MbalulaFikile to give an update on Public Transport regulations #CoronaVirusSA @MbalulaFikile @SANTACONational @SA_Taxis @TrafficRTMC @GovernmentZA @AyandaAllieP pic.twitter.com/CoGhtVaYmW
— Department of Transport (@Dotransport) April 1, 2020
Sayushka Naidoo
s.naidoo@politicalanalysis.co.za
