Mbalula 'relaxes' public transport operating hours for social grants
The government has given an assurance that social grant recipients will not struggle to get to their pay points amid the 21-day lockdown.
Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula has relaxed public transport operating hours for social grant beneficiaries.
Buses and taxis, which could previously operate between 5-9am and 5-8pm, will now operate between 5am-8pm, this week only.
“Effective from tomorrow, 30 March until Friday 3 April, buses and taxis will be permitted to operated from 05:00 until 20:00 in order to cater to the transportation needs of society’s most vulnerable,” says the department's spokesperson, Ayanda Allie Paine.
The department has also appealed for social distancing to be maintained during this time.
Buses and taxis, which could previously operate between 5-9am and 5-8pm, will now operate between 5am-8pm, this week only.
“Effective from tomorrow, 30 March until Friday 3 April, buses and taxis will be permitted to operated from 05:00 until 20:00 in order to cater to the transportation needs of society’s most vulnerable,” says the department's spokesperson, Ayanda Allie Paine.
The department has also appealed for social distancing to be maintained during this time.
Most taxi operators, which include Santaco in Tshwane, were forced to seize operations last week and complained that it was not economically viable for a taxi to transport only half of its usual number of commuters.