Africa-Press – Lesotho. The Road Transport Board has announced that the taxi fare will increase by 10 percent effective from October 1st 2021. Speaking at the press conference, Road Transport Board Chairperson Limema Phohlo indicated that this follows
the research on a document that was sent by the Road Transport Board to the Minister of Transport Hon Tšoeu Mokeretla, which was passed on to the council of ministers.
“The council decided to increase the taxi fee by 10%. Due to complications that were suffered last year, the fee
could not be increased, however, the increase was made based on the rising travelling expenses, mostly resultant to Covid-19 protocols, increase in car parts
purchase and other factors,” Phohlo stated. He extended that the list of taxi fees will be placed in every vehicle. “A 4+1 taxi fee will increase to M9.00, minibus M8.50, sprinter M6.50 and bus fee to M5.00.
From now on the increase will be made annually so as to accommodate and comfort passengers and taxi drivers as to avoid unsatisfactory rallies when the increase doubles,” Phohlo
noted. He added that they will inspect and ensure that the fees will be increased as they have been stipulated, saying taxi drivers who will take advantage of this changes will face charges under policing of traffic cops, who
also deal with such offenses. Meanwhile, in an interview with a taxi driver Mpho Ramabusa, this reporter was informed that the increase has been long overdue.
“The increase still is very low looking at how life has become expensive due to Covid-19. “It starts from registering the vehicle, getting the
taxi to operate to maintaining it, let alone fuel increasing from time and again, but it takes forever for the government to raise taxi fares. Hopefully – as they have stated – the increase will be made annually and that will only be fair for us,” Ramabusa observed.
