According to the SDI, as South Africa emerges from the lockdown, the minibus taxi industry is gaining momentum, ferrying workers and schoolchildren to multiple destinations across the country.

These vehicles are integral to our economy, transporting up to 70% of our national workforce daily. However, with the threat of COVID-19 still looming large, taxis are high-risk spaces and pose serious challenges to the commuters who rely on them, says the SDI.

"The taxi industry is the connecting force for a huge part of our population and we are compelled to ensure that these commuters are as protected and secure as possible," says Brad Fisher, SDI Force co-founder.

"SDI Force collaborated with leading authorities in public health, communicable disease specialists, risk compliance experts, occupational health practitioners and even production engineers who assisted us with the taxi modification equipment," adds Fisher.

"The city of Johannesburg has also played a crucial on the ground supporting role and we are incredibly grateful for the overwhelming support," says Fisher.

The SDI Force was formed when the Supplier Development Initiative, an existing uberised platform made up of multiple micro-suppliers, was repurposed to function as a non-profit emergency relief programme during this national crisis.

"With SDI Force, we have two objectives," says Andile Ramaphosa, SDI Force co-founder. "Firstly, we want to help mitigate the effects of the virus and, secondly, we want to ensure job security for this incredibly hard-working group of suppliers."

So far, the SDI Force has indicated that it has delivered 9 000 food packs, which amounts to 450 individual meals to micro-traders that would have otherwise fallen through the cracks.

"We repurposed the saste-pickers and trained them to become skilled COVID-busters', spraying public places like taxi ranks, commercial enterprises and even the mayors' office and building," says the SDI Force.

'Adopt-a-Safe-Passage' is endorsed by the City of Johannesburg, department of transport, the department of education and the Gauteng province and has been bolstered by the support of Bridge Taxi Finance and FNB, who have together contributed R6-million to the initiative.

This money will be used for the costs needed to make 7 000 Gauteng taxis COVID-compliant and safer for their commuters. Bridge Taxi Finance has recently provided a R175-million co-payment contribution to the taxi industry through a number of different financial relief measures.

It has also committed to 'Adopt-a-Safe-Passage'. "If we cannot assist our taxis during these difficult times, then South Africa will have a hard time recovering," says Vincent Raseroka, chairperson of Bridge Taxi Finance.

"'Adopt-a-Safe-Passage' forms an essential and important part of Bridge Taxi Finance's ongoing strategy and were hoping that this initiative becomes a catalyst for more meaningful assistance for taxi operators across our country," adds Raseroka.

FNB says that it has been a supporter of SDI Force from the outset, and believes that initiatives like 'Adopt-a-Safe-Passage' are crucial to assisting a wide range of South African citizens.

"We believe that protecting our nation requires us to help create safe and secure environments," says Heather Lowe, head of SME development at FNB Business. "But we also need to protect livelihoods and 'Adopt-a-Safe-Passage' will help achieve this both by making it safer for people to get where they need to, and by helping these incredible micro-suppliers remain meaningfully employed."

According to the SDI Force, the key focus of 'Adopt-a-Safe-Passage' is ensuring a safe journey to work for commuters. Taxis transport an average of 150 different people every day, 3 000 people a month, and this makes them breeding grounds for transmission.

Providing this safe passage involves a process comprising of thorough checks, custom-made equipment, changes to behaviour and the clear distribution of important information.

These COVID-compliant measures include a barrier between drivers and commuters, hand sanitising stations on entry and exit and the installation of ventilation spacers on windows.

Commuters and drivers will also be informed at various levels on the necessary changes needed in behaviour. Awareness literature and stickers inside taxis will detail how money should change hands before departure, and entrench the need for social distancing.

All taxis will enforce a 'no masks no ride' policy. Taxis are now only allowed to carry 70% of their normal passenger capacity to create an environment for better social distancing.

The SDI Force says that this is at a financial cost to the taxi drivers; hence they need all the support they can get as an intricate part of getting our country back to work and to school.

It adds that there is an urgent need to expand this campaign across the country: the organisation is encouraging corporates to get involved with the 'Adopt-a-Safe-Passage' and assist SDI Force in rolling it out nationwide.

The SDI Force says hat not only will businesses receive their Enterprise Supplier Development and BBEEE points, but they will also be helping travellers get to work in a safe environment.

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