Rumors that the Taxi Relief Fund (TRF) is a scam has been dismissed by the National Department of Transport (DoT).
The taxi industry is one of the industries that received huge blows as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. The department says that the first directive for the provision of relief for taxi operators was issued on 30 March 2021 by the government. The fund was officially launched in January of this year.
“Initially, taxis were allowed to carry only 50% of their licensed vehicle capacity and this was later increased to 70% when the lockdown restrictions were eased. The industry also had to contend with increased cost of procuring cleaning materials for vehicles and sanitisers for passengers.
“The net effect of all these to the industry has been a declining revenue base and an increase in costs, which left many operators struggling to stay financially afloat,” the department said in a statement.
“The TRF is a scheme set aside to mitigate the negative impact suffered by taxi operators due to the national lockdown imposed in March 2020 to contain the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic. The taxi industry is one of the sectors that was heavily affected by the lockdown.”
According to the department of transport qualifying taxi operators are being discouraged to apply for the TRF as a result of ill intended rumors making the rounds that it is a scam.
The department assures taxi operators that this is not a scam, and encourages those who qualify to apply.
“The department wishes to place it on record that these assertions and reports are not only misinformed, but they are also misleading and ill intended and thus calls upon those making such assertions to desist from doing so.
“Government allocated a once-off ex-gratia fund to the value of R1 135 billion for the operators of minibus taxis and e-hailing services with valid operating licenses as of March 2020.”
The National Empowerment Fund (NEF) is the implementing agency that has been tasked to distribute the fund on behalf of the department.
NEF has also been assisting taxi operators with the process of claiming their relief funds.
To qualify for the taxi relief fund (TRF) taxi operators must be:
. A South African citizen or permanent resident in the Republic;. Registered with South African Revenue Services for Income Tax. In possession of a valid Operating Licence or receipt as proof of application for renewal of an operating licence at the commencement of the national lockdown.
For more information visit https://trf.transport.gov.za/ or call 0800 201 971.
