Commuters stranded due to transporters’ strike
Katlego Isaacs | Monday May 23, 2022 04:08
Protecting their customers’ pockets and the profitability of public transport, taxi and combi drivers are now looking at the government to consider relieving them from paying licensing fees and high fuel prices before resorting to another transport fare increase. The recent spike in the cost of fuel on Friday sent prices up by a staggering P2.74 for diesel and P1.48 for petrol, wiping away the already weak profits that combi and taxi drivers were previously making. As a standard procedure in response to increased fuel prices, transport strikes have historically been aimed at increasing fares to keep drivers relatively profitable. However, several increments in both fuel and fare prices over a short period have hit the pockets of public commuters to the point where drivers are already losing business. A Gaborone taxi driver, Otsile Tsie, expressed that the increase in fuel prices means that he takes home essentially nothing at the end of a workday.
“We make around P400 a day, we put in around P250 per day which leaves us with P150 to pay the owners of our taxis. When our children ask us for a pen or pencil for school, we have to tell them we don’t have money,” Tsie said.
He further stated that the money they get now would be okay if the cost of being a public transporter was reduced significantly. “The money we get now is okay, but we want the government to reduce fuel and licensing fees. We’re paying up to P2000 just to renew licenses, and we simply can’t afford that,” he said.
Another Gaborone combi driver, who requested not to be named, expressed that people that get onto his combi are financially struggling and they can barely afford the cost of transport. “Our clients don’t have money, they can’t afford an increase, honestly speaking. From when combis became P6 we have been hearing nothing but complaints that we are getting too expensive,” he said.
The driver requested that the government look into subsidising the cost of fuel rather than outright increasing the cost of public transport to save both the drivers and passengers. “What can the government do? Why can they not try to subsidise the cost of fuel for just us? Not for everyone, but just for us. Even if it’s a P1 discount for us then we could be ok, but for now things are too expensive,” he suggested.
He further expressed that on a good day of work he can make a profit of P50, which is meant to cover the cost of maintaining and servicing the combi, paying transportation fees, and his own cost of basic living.
The chairman of the Taxi and Combi Association of Botswana, Edison Tlhomelang, stated that the government should consider the state of their current situation and work on ways to relieve pressure on their end so that they are not forced to make passengers suffer.
“The Department of Road Transport and Safety (DRTS) increased some licensing fees by 669%; we do not want this to directly impact our passengers. Since the government regulates us, they should look at the losses we incur by the fuel price hike on top of these licensing fees,” Thlomelang said.
“We understand that fuel prices are beyond their control even as the government, but we can work together to avoid our passengers from being affected by these strikes and increases,” he said.
Feeling the pressure of the strikes, public commuters on Tuesday morning found themselves stranded as public transport drivers stood by on the government's final decision.
Options employee, Kabelo Mokgwathi, stated he heard rumours of the strike the day before and left home in Mmopane at 4am to make sure he made it to work in Railpark on time.
Mokgwathi found himself one of hundreds stranded in the early hours of the morning, freezing cold as no combis came to the busy stop.
"I left home at 4am to check the stop and found it packed with people, far more people than the stop ever sees at that time. I decided to go home and wait it out only to come back and find the same situation hours later," Mokgwathi stated.
"We all waited and waited but nothing came. Eventually I had to give up if I was serious about getting to work on time. I called my cousin to come pick me up and got to work three hours late", he said.
China shop worker in Gaborone West, Lesego Kgweetsang, stated she had to hitch-hike with three different cars from Tlokweng just to make it to work.
"I called my boss to tell her my situation, thankfully she understood but she told me to make sure I come to work by any means possible," Kgweetsang said.
"I woke up very early in the morning hoping I could catch my usual combi, but I waited for hours until I resorted to trying to hitchhike with strangers. I had to use three strangers’ cars just to get close enough to walk to work," she said.
Both Kweetsang and Mokgwathi said they had already expected transport fares to increase from the last fuel price hike, and they stand in solidarity with the struggle of public transporters.
Strikes across the country remain peaceful. However tensions with the government remain high as public transporters struggle to make ends meet, and until their demands are met the public may indefinitely feel the pressure.