Chatsworth residents who make use of public transportation have been urged to follow all Covid-19 protocols diligently in an effort to curb the spread of the virus.
The Chatsworth Minibus Taxi Association encourages passengers to wear their masks, sanitise and to also report non-compliance of the protocols. Spokesperson of the association, Bashir Ismail, said they are strict on the drivers and are playing their part to ensure that safety measures are followed. “We are doing our best to play our part in curbing the spread of this virus. We have a strict chain of penalty which is a first warning, a fine and then suspension. We urge our passengers to please follow protocols.”
Ismail said residents need to also use their discretion and not enter a taxi if it is at full capacity. “We still see taxis being overloaded and while we are dealing with our teams to eradicate this, we also want residents to scan the vehicle before they hop in and to wait for another taxi if one is at full capacity. Make an informed decision which can save someone from contracting the virus,” he said. A driver, Colin Moonsamy, said he even keeps a pack of extra masks in his taxi for people that may need one.
He said: “We warn our passengers that take their masks off when they get in and some people listen but some do not. Another thing is that we have a ‘no eating’ policy in the vehicle but people still take their masks off and eat while there are passengers in close proximity. I cannot stress this point more but I urge people to listen when we caution you about protocols.”
Moonsamy said he also tries to educate his passengers about the dangers of the virus. “I often pick up and drop off nurses from RK Khan Hospital and when they get in after a shift, we can see the toll this virus is taking on them as healthcare frontline workers. I engage in conversations for the passengers to hear so that they can know for themselves that non-compliance of protocols will result badly for them,” he said. Ismail encourages passengers to contact the association if they have any complaints about non-compliance or visit their office at the Croftdene rank near the Chatsworth Centre. The association can be contacted on 031-400-5278.
