The taxi commuters of Bloemfontein can expect a fare increase of R5 from 1 August. This comes after the news of another petrol price increase, which is expected to take effect on the very same day. People will have to pay R15 for a local trip, which means R60 a day for commuters travelling from their homes, to the CBD to their places of work.
Bloemfontein Courant spoke to Santaco Provincial Chairperson of the Free State, Morena Mthimkulu, who explained why the fare hike is justifiable considering that the taxi fare of this city has not increased since 2013 and that the consecutive petrol price increases, which began in the first quarter of the year, have hit taxi drivers’ pockets hard.
Mthimkulu mentioned other factors that have contributed to the decision to increase the taxi trip fare such as the fact that the taxi industry does not receive a subsidy from the government (unlike the bus industry) leaving them to “basically fend for themselves”. He noted that people have been paying less than what they are expected to pay as they strive to serve “even the poorest of the poor”.
Locals will have to make provision for the increase in their already tight budgets as most have had to spend more money in the recent months due to the ripple effect that the petrol price increases have had on the cost of living. – Molebogeng Malebo
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