TAXI commuters will have to fork out more money as the taxi industry in the Western Cape has increased fares, effective from Friday, 1 December.
The South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) spokesman in the province, Nceba Enge said they had increased the fares for long-distance taxis by R100 and R2 for local transport.
“The local fares have increased by R2. Those going to areas such as Malmesbury and Saldanha Bay have increased by R10 per passenger. These prices are effective as of 1 December,” said Enge.
He said for commuters travelling between Eastern Cape and Western Cape, their fares have increased by R100.
Enge said this means if people are leaving on a special trip from Western Cape to Eastern Cape on a Thursday, they pay R1150, but those who travel on Friday would pay R1100 each.
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Enge said commuters and the public should understand that they have been patient as the industry.
“We only increase our prices around this time of the year annually, irrespective of the fuel increases that have been happening throughout the year. Irrespective of how many times the fuel increased, we didn’t react to that. We only increased our prices now,” said Enge.
Commuter Nasiphi Gladile (45), who uses a taxi from Bellville to Cape Town every day, said R100 was now only enough to take her to work for two days.
“I must consider going back to trains because this is not going to work. We are currently paying R23, which we already feel is too much but now it increased to R25. I don’t know what to do. There are no yearly increases at our workplaces, so it is really a challenge,” said Nasiphi.
