For many residents in Chatsworth and surrounding areas, the recent taxi fare increase is not just about paying more to get from one place to another – it is another blow in an ongoing cost-of-living crisis that has left households struggling to make ends meet.
With the prices of food, electricity, transport and other basic necessities continuing to climb while salaries remain largely unchanged, many commuters say they are being forced to make difficult choices just to survive.
During a visit to the Chatsworth Centre taxi rank, commuters and taxi operators described the growing financial pressure facing ordinary South Africans.
Commuter Smiley Khan said life has become significantly more expensive than it was just a few years ago.
“Everything is more costly than before. One can barely get the essentials needed to live comfortably and it seems the government is not making life easier for the citizens,” he said.
Khan questioned whether more could be done to ease the financial burden on struggling households.
“The country has enough money. Some have even said that every South African could receive R1 million and there would still be money left. Why can’t the government do more to help ordinary people who are suffering?” he asked.
Taxi owner Andrew Benjamin said the rising cost of living has affected both commuters and those who depend on the transport industry for an income.
“Business is slow now, especially after many immigrants left. There are fewer passengers than before,” he said.
Benjamin said raising a family has become increasingly difficult.
“Back in the day people had 10 children. Today it’s difficult to have two or three because you simply can’t afford it. Water, electricity, food and school fees keep going up. To raise one child today, you probably need to earn about R10 000 a month, and even then you’re barely making anything.”
The latest taxi fare increase has drawn criticism from commuters, many of whom questioned why fares rise when fuel prices increase but seldom come down when petrol prices drop.
Responding to these concerns, Chatsworth Minibus Association public relations officer Zain Kassim said the decision was driven by escalating operating costs.
“There are multiple factors that have contributed to the increase in taxi fares. The association took this decision after the substantial fuel price increase in April, which was the major contributing factor, together with higher maintenance and operating costs that are directly influenced by fuel prices,” he said.
Kassim explained that while fuel prices may decrease, maintenance costs generally do not.
“Chatsworth Minibus Association last had a fare increase in 2024 prior to the current increase, while most taxi associations have annual increases. The fare was increased by an average of R2 across the board, which is still negligible compared to the increase in operating costs.”
The fare adjustment comes at a time when many South African households are already struggling to keep up with rising expenses. Although motorists received some relief when fuel prices dropped on 1 July, with further decreases expected in August, commuters who rely on public transport say they have yet to experience similar relief in their monthly budgets.
Economist Mervyn Abrahams, Programme Manager at the Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice and Dignity Group, previously warned that the full impact of higher fuel and electricity costs would continue to filter through the economy, driving up the price of food, transport and other essentials.
He added that households would be forced to make difficult decisions as rising costs continue to erode already limited incomes.
“Households will have to cut back on electricity, food and transport. Low-income families simply do not have savings to absorb these shocks,” he said.
