No taxi fare hike despite sharp petrol price increase

TAXI commuters in Kimberley have been granted a reprieve after the provincial taxi council announced that taxi fares will not go up yet despite last night’s petrol price increase.

The provincial general secretary of the South African National Taxi Council (Santaco), Thomas Williams, explained yesterday that the decision to increase fares resided with the chairpersons of the various taxi associations.

“The chairpersons have to make a unanimous decision regarding a taxi fee increment. Each chairperson then takes that decision to their respective provincial taxi associations. Only then will the proposed fee be implemented,” said Williams.

He said that an increase in the price petrol did not always warrant an increase in taxi fares.

“It would be abnormal to increase taxi fares every time the petrol goes up or down. Commuters will expect taxi fees to decrease when the petrol price decreases.

“There are several matters that are taken into consideration before a decision is made regarding an increase in fares.”

The Minister of Energy, Jeff Radebe, announced last week that the price of petrol, including that of diesel and paraffin, would increase on April 4.

The price of petrol went up at midnight last night by 72 cents and 69 cents for both grades, while diesel increased by 65 cents a litre and the cost of paraffin increased by two cents.