Tebogo Monama
Tebogo Monama
Taxi commuters must brace themselves for increased fares after the recent rise in interest rates and the price of petrol.
The SA National Taxi Council (Santaco) said yesterday its members started increasing fares from March 1, and would intensify the process by Monday.
The increases will be as high as R1 a ride. They come after a 61c a litre petrol price rise implemented last week.
Santaco general secretary Philip Taaibosch said: "We are pressed and we can no longer afford petrol prices. We are forced to put our hands in the pockets of commuters."
The Dobsonville-Roodepoort-Leratong-Johannesburg Taxi Association (Dorljota) said the price increase was not only determined by the petrol price increase, but by a lack of subsidies in the taxi industry.
Dorljota's Peter Mabe said: "Our members just bought new taxis and they need to be maintained, but it is very expensive."
He said the last time they increased fares was in 2006.
Mabe said fares around Soweto would go up by 50 cents and commuters to Johannesburg would fork out an extra R1. This means people commuting between Dobsonville and Johannesburg will pay between R6 and R8,50 a one way trip.
Taxi fares to increase
Tebogo Monama
Tebogo Monama
Taxi commuters must brace themselves for increased fares after the recent rise in interest rates and the price of petrol.
The SA National Taxi Council (Santaco) said yesterday its members started increasing fares from March 1, and would intensify the process by Monday.
The increases will be as high as R1 a ride. They come after a 61c a litre petrol price rise implemented last week.
Santaco general secretary Philip Taaibosch said: "We are pressed and we can no longer afford petrol prices. We are forced to put our hands in the pockets of commuters."
The Dobsonville-Roodepoort-Leratong-Johannesburg Taxi Association (Dorljota) said the price increase was not only determined by the petrol price increase, but by a lack of subsidies in the taxi industry.
Dorljota's Peter Mabe said: "Our members just bought new taxis and they need to be maintained, but it is very expensive."
He said the last time they increased fares was in 2006.
Mabe said fares around Soweto would go up by 50 cents and commuters to Johannesburg would fork out an extra R1. This means people commuting between Dobsonville and Johannesburg will pay between R6 and R8,50 a one way trip.