Taxi operators could receive about R5,000 each from the R1 billion Taxi Relief Fund that was launched on Tuesday.
Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula explained that the figure was the outcome of a calculation based on the existing number of minibus taxis, metered taxis and e-hailing partners in the country.
The relief package was meant to help cushion the impact of COVID-19 on the sector.
Available data from the Transport Department indicated that there were about 137,000 legal minibus taxis, 25,000 metered taxis, 1,900 cross-border taxis, and approximately 63,188 e-hailing partners.
Mbalula emphasized that although e-hailing was included in the group, this did not include corporate entities such as Uber or Bolt.
He said the once-off payment was a demonstration of the seriousness with which government takes the taxi industry.
“The relief funding is intended to mitigate the negative financial impact of COVID-19 on the industry without compensating for the loss of income, but rather, based on the principle an ex gratia payment.”
Some of the conditions that must be met include that applicants should be South African citizens or permanent residents and be in possession of valid operating licences.
Relief is intended for all minibus-taxi operators, metered taxis and e-hailing partners. Reference to e-hailing partners refers to those South Africans who use the e-hailing platforms to provide a taxi service and not the corporate entities such as Uber or Bolt. pic.twitter.com/uTeMiFW3HN
— FIKILE MBALULA | MR FIX (@MbalulaFikile) January 11, 2022
Taxi operators must use the following information to begin the application process:
• Website: https://t.co/dilAXWxrW7
Call Centre
• Toll free: 0800 201 971
• SMS: 45864 pic.twitter.com/4JiTpMs3ym— FIKILE MBALULA | MR FIX (@MbalulaFikile) January 11, 2022
-EWN
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