Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula cancelled a meeting planned for Sunday with taxi operators who have been negotiating to be able carry more passengers, and to cross provincial borders during the coronavirus restrictions.

"The minister needs to hear from the [National  Coronavirus Command Council] what their final decision will be regarding the inter-provincial travel, as well as the 100% loading capacity that the taxi industry is asking for," said Mbalula's spokesperson Ayanda Allie-Payne.

Western Cape SA National Taxi Council provincial secretary Nazeem Abdurahman told News24 that they had lost a lot of income from operating with fewer passengers.

They also feel that the proposed compensation of income losses during coronavirus of around R5 000 per operator is far too little, given how hard they have worked to keep people moving and how much they have lost by the enforced 70% passenger limit.

Santaco national spokesperson Thabisho Molelekwa said the taxi operators would conduct a virtual meeting at 14:00 on Sunday to discuss Mbalula's bailing on Sunday's meeting.