Following complaints from commuters, taxi associations are warning drivers to wear their masks correctly or face being fined for contravening the regulations.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you see a [taxi] driver not wearing a mask during a trip, report him,\u201d warns Themba Kubheka, secretary of the Greater North Taxi Association in Durban.<\/p>\n
This follows dozens of complaints from commuters about taxi drivers who defy regulations to slow the spread of Covid-19 by not wearing masks or wearing it incorrectly during trips.<\/p>\n
\u201cSome taxi drivers are not wearing their masks, some wear it on their chin and that is not acceptable \u2026 We will be running a campaign to teach them about the importance of safety especially during the pandemic,\u201d said Kubheka.<\/p>\n
\u201cMost of our drivers were ignorant to the fact that this is serious, but now they are starting to see the seriousness of the situation. We are pleading with them to always wear their masks, sanitise and wash their hands before and after every trip,\u201d said Kubheka.<\/p>\n
SA National Taxi Council’s (Santaco) Sfiso Shangase said: \u201cIn areas where Operation Hlokomela is active, we have asked that they fine any driver or driver assistant found without a mask on a trip. We have also put up stickers in taxis encouraging both our drivers and commuters to wear masks. If drivers don\u2019t wear masks, how do they expect passengers to wear theirs?\u201d<\/p>\n
Commuter Mndeni Mkhize, from Ntuzuma, said drivers who do not wear face masks are endangering their lives and those of their passengers.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey are most at risk as they transport a lot of people from different professions everyday. It is their responsibility to make sure that everyone wears a mask when entering the taxi.\u201d<\/p>\n
Zwangabo Mjoka said taxi drivers in Malukazi, south of Durban, are leading by example. He said most of them wear masks during trips par \u201ca few bad apples\u201d that need to be reported for breaking lockdown regulations.<\/p>\n
Chairperson of the taxi driver association Bonginkosi Sangweni said an ongoing challenge is convincing drivers to wear masks. \u201cSome people say that they are discouraged or don\u2019t see the need to wear masks during trips just because drivers don\u2019t wear theirs. This is wrong; we must work together on this.<\/p>\n
“We are also collecting money to buy thermometers so that drivers can be screened before a trip,\u201d said Sangweni.<\/p>\n
This article was published by GroundUp, and can be found here<\/a><\/p>\n
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