Works and transport minister, Veikko Nekundi, has urged public passenger carrier permit holders who have raised taxi fares without following legal procedures to immediately rectify the matter and cease the unlawful practice.
In a stern statement on Friday, the minister cautioned the permit holders to cease unauthorised fare increases as these are regulated by the Road Transportation Act (1977) in terms of fare adjustments that require compliance with established legal frameworks. Nekundi therefore requested affected individuals to report unauthorised fare increases to his office or to the Road Transportation Board Secretariat. Complainants should provide their name, address, vehicle registration number, payment receipt, and a written complaint.
“I have learned with disappointment that some Public Passenger Carrier Permit holders have increased public passenger transport fares (taxi fares) without following the legally prescribed procedures for taxi fare adjustments. Namibia is established as a sovereign, secular, democratic, and unitary State founded upon the principles of democracy, the rule of law, and justice for all. Accordingly, I expect every Namibian citizen and service provider to comply with the rule of law that governs our nation, beginning with the Namibian Constitution and extending to all relevant legal instruments,” Nekundi stated.
The minister added that the rule of law protects consumers from abuse of power through checks and balances, guaranteed fundamental rights, and creates the framework for justice, accountability, and national unity. He emphasised that any deviation from, or non-compliance with, the established legal framework undermines these fundamental rights, and compromises justice and fairness for all Namibians.
Nekundi explained that Section 12(3) of the Act stipulates that “a holder of a Public Permit authorised to convey persons for reward may, at any time after any increase in the price of petroleum fuel increase such tariffs by so much, but not more than 10% of such tariffs, to enable recovery of increased expenditure on fuel resulting directly from the increase, provided that the same holder applies within 10 days after the coming into effect of any tariff so increased.”
Furthermore, Section 25(1)(b) grants the Transportation Board the authority to withdraw or suspend a permit if it is established that the circumstances under which the permit was granted have materially changed, including failure to comply with permit conditions.
“In light of these provisions, I respectfully urge any road carrier permit holders who have increased road public passenger transport fares without following the due process to rectify this matter and cease this practice with immediate effect. At the same time, I encourage all members of the public who have been affected by any unauthorized fare increases to report such cases to my Office or to the Road Transportation Board Secretariat under the Roads Authority for investigation and further action”, Nekundi stated.