Western Cape Premier Alan Winde has officially launched the Atlantis Red Dot taxi Service as part of Transport Month at the Saxonsea vaccine site.
He was accompanied by the provincial Transport and Public Works Minister Daylin Mitchell and Health Minister Dr Nomafrench Mbombo.
The service provides free transport to community members who want to get vaccinated.
It comprises a fleet of 135 minibus taxis that have already transported 8 600 passengers to vaccine sites and made over 285 900 trips in the province.
The Atlantis Red Dot Taxi Service was created after government identified the need for free public transport to get community members to vaccine sites.
Winde said the service was an excellent example of the Western Cape innovatively using public transport as part of an all-of-society approach to address important priorities.
“We are here today to highlight the Atlantis Red Dot Taxi Service that will assist and provide free transport to many community members who need to be vaccinated. This is one of many efforts undertaken by my department to improve our overall public transport system and to align it with the real needs of our residents.” he said.
Winde added that the provincial Department of Health had identified those in need of transport through its on-the-ground local community liaison officers.
“Such people are then transported by a Red Dot taxi through coordination by the provincial Department of Transport and Public Works,” said the Premier.