Taxi commuters warned to travel light, or pay up

Taxi commuters travelling home during this festive season, have been warned to take minimal luggage, or risk paying for it. The warning was issued by the South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO), which said the initiative is to avoid overloading, which poses a significant threat to the safety of passengers.“Due to the risks associated with overloading, we may be forced to consider charging for excess luggage to ensure that our vehicles operate within safe capacity limits. We want to avoid this measure, but the safety of our passengers is our top priority,” said SANTACO spokesperson, Rebecca Phala. The request come after several provinces, including Limpopo, recently launched Operation Malaisha, meant to tackle overloaded vehicles minibus taxis, light delivery vans, and bakkies towing trailers. Overloading has also been cited as one of the causes of accidents on the country’s roads. “Overloading not only compromises the safety of passengers but also causes discomfort and inconvenience. We urge commuters to cooperate with us by traveling light and avoiding overloading,” explained Phala.The spokesperson emphasized that SANTACO is committed to providing safe and reliable transportation services to commuters. “We will continue to work with law enforcement agencies and other stakeholders to ensure that our vehicles operate safely and responsibly. We urged commuters to prioritize their safety and the safety of others by reporting any instances of overloading or other safety concerns to the authorities,” added Phala.