Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula has had to backtrack on his decision to allow taxis to load passengers to 100% capacity.
Following an outcry about the safety of commuters, Mbalula said he had reverted to the regulation which stipulates a 70% loading capacity for minibus taxis.
“After our announcement of catering for 100% (capacity), there was a public outcry about the impact of such an arrangement to the health and safety of public transport users,” he said.
“We took these issues seriously and engaged with key stakeholders, resulting in a consensus of maximising the loading capacity to 70%.
“We urge the taxi industry to accept these declared measures.
“Government will undertake a programme to assist with the distribution of the masks. We also urge operators to continue to sanitise the taxi surfaces and to provide hand sanitisers to the public.”
The new regulations state:
* A minibus licensed to carry 10 passengers is limited to carry a maximum of 7 passengers;
* A minibus licensed to carry 15 passengers is limited to carry the maximum of 10 passengers;
* A midibus permitted to carry a maximum of 22 passengers is limited to carry a maximum of 15 passengers.
* Taxi drivers are required to sanitise their vehicles before picking up any passengers, using a sanitiser with an alcohol content of no less than 60%.
* All public transport operators must also put measures in place to adhere to social distancing to curb the spread of the virus.
Buses with a capacity of over 22 passengers remain banned, unless used by essential staff.