12 May 2020

The Department of Road Safety and Transport (DRST) has issued 39 public transport permits on May 11 after government eased COVID-19 extreme social distancing regulations.

Speaking in an interview, Molepolole DRST station manager, Mr Andrew Paledi said there were 337 taxi permits in his jurisdiction but they would add more taxis on the roads in the next days.

He said it was impossible to issue permits to all taxi operators at once, saying they first had to be briefed about the new COVID-19 regulations.

Under the new regulations, taxi drivers are required to disinfect their vehicles three times a day, register all passengers and sanitise their hands.

Mr Paledi said the operators were willing to abide by the regulations, adding they were also in-line with existing ones as vehicles are required to be clean at all times and also road worthy.

He however said buses travelling over 60 kilometres would not be issued with permits, and this has affected the Gaborone-Letlhakeng route, forcing passengers to be dropped in Molepolole.

For his part, Mr Kenanao Motswana, secretary of the Molepolole Taxi Association decried the poor working relationship between his association and the DRST.

He dismissed the reports that they held a meeting with the DRST station manager, adding they had their own ideas, which they were willing to share with the department.

Mr Motswana said some taxi operators did not have all the information hence they lost their permits as they did not know the required number of passengers and also did not have sanitisers in their vehicles.

He said they proposed for a meeting with all taxi operators at the bus rank, which had more room to accommodate them while keeping social distancing, but the DRST station manager did not adhere to their proposals.

His worry was that as more taxi drivers congest at the DRST offices, social distancing requirements were easily not followed and hence putting their lives at risk.

One taxi operator said acquiring a permit was not easy and tedious as five drivers were briefed per session.

Following their briefing, which includes training on the COVID-19 regulations, the vehicles were inspected before they are issued with permits.  ENDS