The Greater Bloemfontein Taxi Association has issued a stark warning that ongoing fuel price hikes are poised to severely damage the taxi industry, with operators already struggling to turn a profit despite a recent fare adjustment.
According to the association, taxi operators are finding it increasingly difficult to meet their daily targets or generate any meaningful profit following successive significant increases in fuel prices. The local taxi fare in Bloemfontein was raised by three rand, from 15 to 18 rand, effective May 1st.
A spokesperson for the association detailed the cascading economic pressures, noting that the high cost of living is reducing household disposable income for food and other essentials. Commuters, already dealing with higher daily transport costs, have been forced to change their travel habits—some now walk to their destinations or alternate travel days to make ends meet.
“Both taxi and bus fares have gone up,” the spokesperson said. “That is the difficulty we are faced with—that we are going to put more pressure on our customers if we increase the taxi fare more. Initially, I used to pour 400 petrol but now I must pour 600 to 700. So it is affecting us negatively.”
While the association has already implemented a fare increase, it acknowledged that further hikes could push passengers away entirely. “Some of the people, they prefer to walk instead of taxis. Some of them told us they will take buses because buses differences, I think, is two rand or three rand. We increased the price from the 1st of May this month but we got some challenges somewhere somehow because some of the people do not afford.”
The association stated it remains mindful that it serves a poor community and said it will address further fuel price hikes if and when they come.