Red Dot transports 12 000 healthcare workers

Media Release by Bonginkosi Madikizela Western Cape Minister of Transport and Public Works

Since its launch on May 18th, the Red Dot Taxi service has transported approximately 12 000 healthcare workers over 150 000km, servicing 15 healthcare facilities across the Cape Town Metro, including major COVID-19 treatment facilities such as Tygerberg and Groote Schuur Hospitals. 

The service safely transports an average of 450 frontline healthcare workers free of charge to their homes across the City every evening.

The Red Dot Taxi service is now in full swing delivering transport services in support of the fight against COVID-19.  A partnership between the Western Cape Department of Health and the Western Cape Department of Transport and Public Works, the service includes two components:  The first is evening transport of public sector healthcare workers home from their places of work.  The second is the transport of people to and from public quarantine and isolation facilities. 

Public quarantine and isolation facilities have been established across the Western Cape to accommodate those with or at risk of having COVID-19 and who are unable to enter quarantine or isolation in their own homes.  These facilities are a key part of the Western Cape Government’s strategy to stop the spread of COVID-19 and Red Dot Taxi has been tasked with transporting such people to and from these facilities.  Since this component of the service commenced operations on 30 May, it has transported almost 1 100 passengers across the Province. 

The Red Dot Taxi service is delivered with a fleet of almost 200 dedicated minibuses, each fitted with a protective screen between the driver and passengers, a tracker to monitor performance and the recognisable Red Dot Taxi sticker.  Stringent health and safety procedures are followed, including cleaning and sanitisation of the vehicle after every trip, hand sanitiser on board for passengers and the driver, compulsory wearing of masks by all on board and a limit of 50% on vehicle capacity (about 7 passengers on a typical minibus). 

The service is being delivered successfully by Umanyano Travel Services under contract to the Department.  Umanyano, was formed by SANTACO Western Cape, which represents the minibus taxi industry in the Province. 

We are proud to be working with the SANTACO and we hope that this marks the beginning of a new and stronger partnership between government and the industry in support of improved public transport.