Minibus taxis’ cash system makes industry a sitting duck in Covid-19 pandemic
An estimated 15-million passengers handle banknotes and coins in its vehicles daily
On a recent minibus taxi ride through central Johannesburg it was hard to miss the irony of commuters getting engrossed in the digital world of smartphone apps while remaining firmly ensconced in a world of cash-only payments, long queues and poor customer service.
The constant perils faced by commuters and drivers have been compounded by the coronavirus outbreak, due to the proximity of passengers inside the taxi and the exchange of banknotes and coins. The World Health Organisation is encouraging people to use contactless technology instead of cash, cautioning that the virus can survive on the surface of banknotes for days. In an attempt to contain the contagion, banks in China and South Korea have been disinfecting used banknotes, while the US Federal Reserve is withholding banknotes received from Asia as a precautionary measure...
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