AFTER yesterday’s petrol price hike thousands of commuters around Buffalo City Metro had to pay more for their travel after taxi associations increased fares by between R1 and R2.
Taxi associations in Mthatha increased fares in January.
Disgruntled and shocked commuters said the taxi associations had failed to tell them about the new fares. An increase of R1 for commuters in urban areas was implemented and those travelling from rural areas had to pay R2 more.
Mdantsane’s Richard Mtuyedwa said: “We only found this out in the morning. Many taxis do not have posters stating this change and we had to pay an extra R1 for something we did not even know about.” Mtuyedwa was one of many commuters shocked by the news yesterday.
While taxi drivers implemented the increase yesterday, some already started on Monday.
Commuters at the taxi ranks were outraged .
“We’ re fighting with these people because of the expensive petrol. Some of us found out a day before – this affects us badly,” commuter Elsi Tafa said.
Mdantsane East London Taxi Association (Meta) chairman Zukile Mrubata said there had been challenges with the increase. “Officially we implemented it on Monday and there have been challenges. The commuters will always complain even though we informed them.
“It has not been smooth but we don’t have a choice because everything is expensive these days,” said Mrubata.
The increase only affected the local routes and not the long distance routes.
Uncedo Taxi Association also implemented the new increase while members of the East London Taxi Association (Elta) said they had decided to give commuters more time and would only implement the increase next week. “We only got the posters on Tuesday so we decided to give the commuters more time.
“We are losing out now but it’s only fair that they are prepared for this,” said Mzingisi Mlota.
Uncedo’s Vuyisile Krakri said taxi fares increased every year.
“Last year we increased some routes by 50c and some by R1.
“It’s unfortunate that we increased by R1 and R2 this time but we had no choice,” Krakri said.
In Mthatha taxi association representatives said notices to increase fares were posted inside taxis at least two months in advance.
Public relations officer of the Mamela Taxi Rank, Douglas Zingisile Sifuba said: “Petrol goes up more than it goes down.
“But when passengers hear about the decrease over the radio, they accuse us of increasing fares while government has decreased it.
“That does not take us anywhere, it means we are running the business at a loss. There’s no profit.” — /
Taxi fare hikes shock commuters
Taxi associations in Mthatha increased fares in January.
Disgruntled and shocked commuters said the taxi associations had failed to tell them about the new fares. An increase of R1 for commuters in urban areas was implemented and those travelling from rural areas had to pay R2 more.
Mdantsane’s Richard Mtuyedwa said: “We only found this out in the morning. Many taxis do not have posters stating this change and we had to pay an extra R1 for something we did not even know about.” Mtuyedwa was one of many commuters shocked by the news yesterday.
While taxi drivers implemented the increase yesterday, some already started on Monday.
Commuters at the taxi ranks were outraged .
“We’ re fighting with these people because of the expensive petrol. Some of us found out a day before – this affects us badly,” commuter Elsi Tafa said.
Mdantsane East London Taxi Association (Meta) chairman Zukile Mrubata said there had been challenges with the increase. “Officially we implemented it on Monday and there have been challenges. The commuters will always complain even though we informed them.
“It has not been smooth but we don’t have a choice because everything is expensive these days,” said Mrubata.
The increase only affected the local routes and not the long distance routes.
Uncedo Taxi Association also implemented the new increase while members of the East London Taxi Association (Elta) said they had decided to give commuters more time and would only implement the increase next week. “We only got the posters on Tuesday so we decided to give the commuters more time.
“We are losing out now but it’s only fair that they are prepared for this,” said Mzingisi Mlota.
Uncedo’s Vuyisile Krakri said taxi fares increased every year.
“Last year we increased some routes by 50c and some by R1.
“It’s unfortunate that we increased by R1 and R2 this time but we had no choice,” Krakri said.
In Mthatha taxi association representatives said notices to increase fares were posted inside taxis at least two months in advance.
Public relations officer of the Mamela Taxi Rank, Douglas Zingisile Sifuba said: “Petrol goes up more than it goes down.
“But when passengers hear about the decrease over the radio, they accuse us of increasing fares while government has decreased it.
“That does not take us anywhere, it means we are running the business at a loss. There’s no profit.” — /
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