Newcastle taxi industry takes proactive steps under threat of the third wave

Following the pandemic wreaking havoc across South Africa, the Newcastle taxi industry is taking proactive steps to minimise the chances of a third wave affecting the transport sector.

Recently, professionals such as Professor Salim Abdool Karim, Co-chair of the Ministerial Advisory Committee on COVID-19, and Professor Shabir Madhi, Executive Director of the Wits Vaccines and Infectious Diseases Analytics Research Unit, shared their apprehensions regarding another wave hitting SA within the next two to three months.

Professor Karim claimed the government expects the third wave in June or July, overlapping with the winter months.

With expectations of yet another wave, Newcastle Municipality, South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO) and Siyazi Thula met on Monday morning, 15 March 2021, to ensure the taxi industry was not impacted while minimising the spread of the virus. This was achieved through Siyazi Thula, a professional transport engineering solutions specialist, donating six sanitising stands and 25 litres of sanitiser to taxi associations operating in the Amajuba District. 

CEO of Siyazi, Sias Oosthuizen, explains, “We work closely with the industry in the province, and this is our way to help in the fight against the pandemic. Through this outreach campaign, we want to show we care by donating each rank in the area with a sanitiser stand and sanitiser.”

Chairperson of Amajuba Regional Taxi Association, Dumisani Ntuli expressed his gratitude towards Siyazi Thula by stating, “This will help us a lot, as our operators and passengers need to be sanitised and wear masks.”

Additionally, he highlights with the number of people passing away due to COVID-19, the taxi industry could see potential job losses and community members being stranded without transport. With this in mind, Ntuli says Siyazi Thula’s generosity has not gone unnoticed, as it allows the taxi sector to take an active stance in reducing the spread of the disease.

As the taxi industry prepares to do its part in minimising the possibility of a third wave, what are your thoughts?

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