COVID-19 SCREENING AND TESTING FOR TAXI INDUSTRY

Hundred of taxi drivers, queue marshals and passengers tested for COVID-19 during the course of this week. The testing and screening drive of the taxi industry kicked off in Ivory Park, Kopanong Taxi Rank and Rabie Ridge Taxi Rank on the 19th of May 2020.

On Tuesday the Minister of Transport Fikile Mbalula was in attendance for the launch of the programme and was accompanied by Chairperson of Gauteng South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) Johannes Mkhonza and the City of Johannesburg Health MMC, Eunice Mcgina.

More than 15 testing booths were set up inside the Ivory Park Taxi Rank at Kopanong Shopping Centre. Taxi drivers were amongst those tested for the coronavirus and underlying medical conditions. Before entering the testing booth, taxi drivers were required to provide their details to enable health officials to trace them if they test positive.

Ivory Park has been identified as one of the COVID-19 hotspots in Gauteng.

Passengers will now be required to sign a register for an easy contact tracing. Commuters and taxi drivers will be required to wear a face mask at all times inside a taxi. Furthermore, people will be required to wear a face mask when entering a taxi.

Other taxi ranks that have been identified for the screening and testing campaign include Sangweni Taxi Rank in Tembisa, Renbro Taxi Rank in Hammanskraal and Pan Africa Taxi Rank in Alexandra.