Taxi industry says it’s ready to take compulsory jabs on board

THE taxi industry is gearing up for a mandatory vaccine policy expected to be introduced next year.

The SA National Taxi Council (Santaco) said if the forced jabs ensured safety of commuters from the new Omicron variant, the sustainability of businesses and the prevention of deaths, they would not be going against the policy.

The council wanted to be part of the solution by assisting with rebuilding the economy, while saving lives.

Addressing the nation last Sunday, President Cyril Ramaphosa said the government had been engaging with various partners and stakeholders on the introduction of compulsory jabs which would allow access to workplaces, public transport, public events as well as public premises.

Ramaphosa said a task team, whose mandate would be to undertake broad consultations on a fair and sustainable approach, had been established and that the team would report to the inter-ministerial committee on vaccination.

“We realise that the introduction of such measures is a difficult and complex issue, but if we do not address this seriously and as a matter of urgency, we will continue to be vulnerable to new variants and will continue to suffer new waves of infection,” he said.

Santaco provincial spokesperson Sifiso Shangase said although the KZN leadership had not had the opportunity to discuss the matter in detail, they were fully on board with compulsory jabs and did not foresee any losses, but rather the prevention of unnecessary deaths.