Taxis get more time while trains remain off-limit

“People who are not wearing masks will not be allowed to make use of public transport by law for the foreseeable future.”

This is according to Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula, who was updating the media on the level 4 transport regulations.

On Friday, South Africa relaxed its national Covid-19 coronavirus lockdown regulations, allowing certain categories of workers to return to work.

Mbalula urged all commuters to wear a mask before entering into public transport as it has been made a law.

The minister announced that all road-based public transport services would be permitted to operate from 5am to 7pm. Until now, under level 5, public transport vehicles were only able to operate from 5am to 10am and again from 4pm to 8pm.

Mbalula said there would be a grace period of one hour (after 7pm) to complete trips and drop off passengers. This includes minibus taxis, buses, metered taxis as well as charter and shuttle services.

Under level 4 regulations, no public transport will be allowed on the road between 8pm and 5am because of a newly introduced curfew.

“We call on the public to ensure strict adherence to this requirement by obtaining their own face masks in line with the guidance given by [Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma].

“While government may provide limited assistance in ensuring the availability of masks, the onus rests on each individual to ensure that they do not leave home without a mask,” Mbalula said.

Loading capacity for minibus taxis remains at 70% of licensed passengers, with social distancing and other mitigating measures remaining in place.

“We know for a fact that there are those who have been cutting corners and undermining this principle,” added the minister, before thanking those who have continued to adhere to the rules.

On Thursday, Dlamini-Zuma, said in a statement that the many citizens who were desperate to travel between municipalities or provinces to get to where they needed to be could do so between May 1 and 7.

“For this purpose, there will be no need for people to obtain and produce a permit in order to cross provincial, metropolitan or district boundaries,” Dlamini-Zuma said.

“The security structures will, however, put measures in place to ensure that those who make use of the window will do so once-off, and one-way only.

“We urge all South Africans to recognise the unprecedented crisis facing the country owing to Covid-19 and to use the opportunity provided for once-off travel responsibly by adhering to the lockdown regulations,” she added.

Mbalula said that long distance buses and taxis were allowed to carry 70% of commuters during the seven-day period if they followed the mandatory requirements, which include ensuring that passengers are wearing masks and that taxis and buses are sanitised after each trip.

Regarding railway transport, Mbalula said trains were still prohibited under level 4.

“There will be no immediate resumption of Metrorail commuter services until we are satisfied that the risk of transmission is manageable on a corridor-by-corridor basis.

“Long-distance trains are still prohibited in level 4 too,” he added.

However, he said, the Gautrain would gradually be reintroduced, covering eight to nine stations, as airport services remain closed.

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