Secretary general of the Namibia Bus and Taxi Association (NABTA), Pendapala Nakathingo clarified that the official fare for minibus taxis is N.dollars 13, not N.dollars 10 as some drivers charge.

On Monday, at the Siyanda bus stop, Nakathingo said NABTA discovered that different drivers were charging passengers different amounts, causing confusion and disagreements, and stated that the approved fare takes effect on Tuesday, 23 August 2022.

In December 2021, NABTA made an official announcement of a 9.2 per cent increase in public transportation, after the government rejected its request to raise bus and taxi fares to COVID-19 period prices, which would have resulted in a 15 per cent increase.

Nakathingo told Nampa on the sidelines that he came out on Monday to send a clear and stern message to minibus drivers who are ignoring the announcement made in December 2021 and are now exploiting people by charging their own rates.

“Small taxis charge according to taxi fare rates and distance travelled. Minibus drivers transport more passengers and should adhere to the N.dollars 13 agreed upon. We did so because NABTA stands between drivers, passengers and the government. NABTA is Namibia’s only association tasked with increasing bus and taxi fares. This is something we are doing in collaboration with the government, not on our own,” he said.

He stated that minibuses, like small taxis, are registered with municipalities, which is why they have numbers on their buses, and that as a result, NABTA felt compelled to inform the public about the situation.

“We are issuing a stern warning to the drivers of these minibuses to not overcharge passengers with these ridiculous prices, and secondly, they must not overload passengers, particularly those drivers charging N.dollars 10 to get more passengers and overload, which is very dangerous to all road users,” he said.

Nakathingo said the minibuses in question have always been a problem judging by the number of complaints received from members of the public, and he urged the drivers to always follow NABTA and Namibian traffic rules.

The minibus drivers are strongly advised to carry the NABTA-issued document, which is a confirmation of taxi fare for minibuses operating as minibuses within Windhoek municipal areas.

The document serves as both a guideline and proof that the fares are legitimate and have been approved by NABTA.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency