
- Commuters are unhappy that taxi fare prices are expected to increase.
- Taxi drivers believe the increases are fair, considering that fuel prices have escalated.
- The NTA said taxi fare prices would increase between 25% to 30%.
“The increase in taxi fares is making it hard for us, we can’t afford it. We are looking for jobs and we have to use taxis to attend these interviews… it’s a lot and it’s not fair.”
These were the words of a young woman returning from a job interview in Randburg.
On Thursday morning, News24 went to the Randburg Taxi Rank to speak to commuters and taxi drivers about the looming increase in taxi fares.
While the early morning rush hour to get to work had passed, commuters were still returning from early morning commitments or shopping.
The increase in taxi fares has left people feeling overwhelmed.
Bulelwa, who did not disclose her surname, said a taxi from Bree Street Downtown, Johannesburg, to Greenvillage, Johannesburg, was now R25, which was a drastic increase from R18.
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She said it was money she just did not have.
“We are looking for jobs and going out to interviews… we can’t just sit back and say we can’t go to town because a taxi is expensive. We have no choice, but to pay,” she said.
“It is affecting us… We are young people, looking for jobs, and we have to get jobs. If we don’t, what are we gonna do? Sit at home?”
A few commuters, who preferred to remain anonymous, voiced their concerns about the increase in taxi fares.
One of the commuters said:
A commuter said that, while prices, including taxi fares, were rising, their salaries were either decreasing or remaining constant.
“If I earn R500 a month, most of that goes to taxi fare, and I end up working for R100,” the commuter said.
Taxi drivers, though, said the increase was fair, considering that the cost of living was escalating and petrol prices were sky-rocketing.
One taxi driver, who chose to remain anonymous, said: “We only increase our prices once a year, but petrol goes up every now and then. One minute it goes down by 50c, and the next it goes up by R2, clearly this is a money game,” the taxi driver said.
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Phakamani Phakhathi, a taxi driver, said the prices from Randburg to Bree remained at R15, but would soon increase. He said food and vehicle maintenance, in conjunction with petrol having doubled in price, put them at a considerable disadvantage.
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