Abstract
The tourism sector is currently one of the hardest hit by the pandemic, with impacts on both travel supply and demand. The transport system forms a key part of tourism, including the tourist experience at a destination. This research sought to understand how the taxi industry operates within the City of Johannesburg under the government restrictions imposed during COVID-19.
 The study adopted a qualitative research approach, based on interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) to explore the topic. Semi-structured individual interviews were conducted with participants who were purposively selected from the Johannesburg CBD taxi rank.
 Insufficient sanitisation and the breaching of curfews were observed. Limited guidance was provided during the initial stages of the pandemic, with no formal training. Financial support was made available, but drivers did not receive funds, as they did not comply with the requirements for membership of the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) and Temporary Employee Relief Scheme (TERS) (Melzer, 2020). Illegal full-capacity loading and price increases were also evident. All participants seem to have expressed some form of anxiety, loneliness and uncertainty. Few suggestions were proposed towards sustainable practices and innovative technological means to support the industry during the lockdown and going forward.
Highlights
COVID-19 has affected every business and tourism destination globally, including cultural tourism, mega sports events, religious pilgrimages and safari tours, as well as the transport industry that supports these destinations
The participants were purposively selected based on their understanding of the impact and extended implications of COVID-19 as it related to the taxi industry from the supply side
The taxi industry is a key player in the economic development of South Africa
Summary
COVID-19 has affected every business and tourism destination globally, including cultural tourism, mega sports events, religious pilgrimages and safari tours, as well as the transport industry that supports these destinations. The taxi industry empowers black South Africans at a time when they have few economic opportunities (McCaul, 1990; Carol, 2006). Employment creation is the greatest challenge facing South Africa, requiring solutions from a social, economic and political angle (Altman, 2013; DoL, 2006). The taxi industry provides opportunities for self-employment, and contributes to the economic development and growth of the country. The minibus industry supports black South African commuters by offering a cheaper substitute for formalised public transportation. Even before COVID-19, many South African households experienced a lack of income or limited income, as well as uncertainty related to unemployment and retrenchments in a VUCA-world (Wakelin-Theron, Ukpere & Spowart, 2019), which made many of them even more vulnerable during the pandemic.
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