Drivers at the Nyanga taxi rank got a surprise visit from Transport MEC Bonginkosi Madikizela on Thursday.
He was accompanied by transport committee chairperson at the City of Cape Town, Angus McKenzie.
Nyanga taxi rank has been identified as a hotspot for non-compliance with lockdown regulations following several complaints.
Under Alert Level 3, minibus taxis may only be filled to 70% capacity.
So, a minibus licensed to carry 23 people may now only have the driver and 15 passengers. A taxi licensed to carry 16 people may carry only the driver and 10 passengers.
McKenzie said drivers are not adhering to the regulations: “We have received complaints not only from this taxi rank but various taxi ranks.
“Drivers are not wearing masks, and they are not ensuring that they have the maximum capacity that they are allowed to have.”
During the visit, he stopped several “overloaded” taxis.
The provincial government has launched a USSD number where passengers can report non-compliance, by dialling *134*234# on their cellphones to alert the Department of Transport and Public Works.
Madikizela said since the launch of the USSD on 27 April, they have completed 595 responses from passengers, relating to overloading and a lack of sanitisers.
He said people must learn to live with the Coronavirus: “Covid-19 is here and will be with us for a long time. The only defence we have against the Coronavirus is our behaviour.
“The lockdown will come to an end at some point and we must continue to practise social distancing, wear our masks and sanitise our hands.”