Cape Town - The National Department of Transport has slammed rumours that its Covid-19 Taxi Relief Fund (TRF) is a scam in an attempt to encourage qualifying taxi and e-hailing drivers to apply for the assisted relief it offers.
The department said that it had moved to dismiss the false claims as they were being used to dissuade and misinform taxi and e-hailing services operators who are set to benefit from the scheme to support the public transport industry in the wake of the pandemic.
This after the initial setting up of a R1 135 billion fund in March 2021 by the national government to assist taxi operators with valid operating licences as of March 2020.
Transport Department spokesperson Collen Msibi said this was because the taxi industry bore the brunt of measures meant to restrict gatherings and general mobility to curb the spread of Covid-19.
Msibi said following the official launch of the fund earlier this year in Gauteng the department had been committed to working with the taxi industry to support the industry as it was badly impacted by the pandemic.
“We are confident that all complying applicants will receive relief within the extended period of March 2023. That’s why the department is continuing to call for taxi and e-hailing operators to register for and collect their relief funds,” Msibi said.