Taxi war looms
- 79% fare hike ignites commuter fury
- MRTO’s massive increase threatens to price Basotho off the road
NKAMOHELENG MOLOISANE
MASERU – A devastating 79 percent surge in taxi fares is set to trigger a high-stakes showdown between public transport operators and long-suffering commuters, as the Maseru Region Taxi Operators (MRTO) pushes ahead with dramatic increases that critics say will cripple households already buckling under economic pressure.
The looming hike, scheduled for implementation on May 1, will see local city routes skyrocket from M13 to M23 – an unprecedented leap that has left passengers reeling.
Long-distance commuters face an additional M9 for every 10 kilometres on top of existing charges, a move that threatens to reshape the daily lives of thousands of Basotho who depend on public transport to access work, education, and markets.
At the heart of the escalating crisis stands a fundamental question – will cash-strapped commuters abandon public transport altogether, or will they have no choice but to absorb yet another blow to their already depleted wallets?
The current crisis is merely the latest chapter in a long and troubled history between transport operators and the government. The MRTO, established as the mother body representing taxi operators across the country, has spent years lobbying for what it considers sustainable fare structures.
In December 2023, the Road Transport Board approved a 10 percent increase, raising local fares from M12 to M13. At the time, Board chairperson, Limema Phoohlo, announced a commitment to annual adjustments, arguing that regular increases would prevent the kind of steep hikes that shock commuters and trigger public outcry.
“When a few years go by without a taxi fare increment, that means when it finally happens the hike will be steeper. Commuters will not understand this and they will also not be able to afford or absorb the hike,” Phoohlo explained in November 2023.
Yet that commitment has unraveled.
Despite promises of annual reviews, the MRTO claims the government has failed to honour its side of the bargain. The association initially proposed a modest M2 increase to M15 in mid-2025, but months of silence from the Road Transport Board left operators frustrated and increasingly desperate.
In February 2025, finance minister, Dr Retšelisitsoe Matlanyane, announced during her budget presentation that a consultant had been engaged to develop a pricing model and system to address frequent fare disputes. However, by March 2026, the MRTO had still not met with the consultant after a scheduled meeting was postponed.
A consultant engaged by the Ministry of Public Works and Transport has reportedly indicated that based on a cost-recovery formula, local fares should be around M22 – a figure strikingly close to the contested M23 now proposed.
However, affordability considerations had placed a more realistic benchmark at M15.
MRTO chairperson, Mokete Jonase, has defended the dramatic increase as a matter of survival. Speaking at the association’s offices on Monday, he cited soaring operational costs that have pushed taxi owners to the brink.
“We have had to review fares in order to keep services running, given the continuous increase in operational costs such as fuel, vehicle maintenance and spare parts,” Jonase said, emphasising that operators have been operating at a loss under current pricing conditions.
The numbers paint a grim picture for operators. According to MRTO spokesperson, Lebohang Moea, a typical 4+1 taxi generates approximately M200 per day, or about M6 000 per month.
After paying a driver M2 800, the owner is left with just M3 200 to cover vehicle maintenance and support their family.
School transport operators face an even more precarious situation. A seven-seater vehicle authorised to carry 14 children generates M5 600 monthly in fares, but fuel alone consumes M4 000 of that revenue, leaving a paltry M1 600 – insufficient to pay a driver or maintain the vehicle.
Yet critics argue that a 79 percent increase is not the answer.
According to recent media reports, transport minister, Neo Matjato Moteane, has reminded operators that the existing agreement allows for an annual increase of just M1, and any adjustment must not be excessive or burdensome to commuters.
For commuters, the proposed increase represents far more than an inconvenience – it threatens their very ability to participate in the economy.
Ntokase Jone, a daily passenger, expressed the frustration felt by many.
“In as much as taxi drivers are facing challenges, are they also considering the struggles of passengers?” she asked.
“They are also facing problems, and that is where they get their income, and people should understand them. But at the same time, commuters are also struggling.”
Jone highlighted a troubling reality: even at current M13 fares, many passengers cannot pay the full amount.
“People keep saying they only have M10 and cannot pay the full amount. This says, in as much as it is too much for people, increasing fares at such a high rate will also not necessarily solve the problem.”
A fruit vendor from Ha Pita who sells in Maseru’s Central Business District said she may be forced to walk to work to cut costs.
“Selling in town helps my business run faster, but I cannot afford to spend all my money on transport while supporting my family. They increased too much without looking at our struggles.”
Students and young people have also raised their voices in protest. Letsoako Sefako, a student at the Institute of Extra Mural Studies (IEMS) residing in Leribe and completing an unpaid internship in Botha-Bothe, described the move as unfair and one-sided.
“I am working at a community radio station as part of my studies and I do not get paid. I am already struggling with transport costs every day. What about volunteers who are not receiving any allowance? How are they expected to afford this increase?”
As tensions escalate, regional experience offers valuable lessons for Lesotho.
Across the Southern African Development Community (SADC), countries have developed varied approaches to managing transport fare increases while balancing operator sustainability with commuter affordability.
South Africa’s Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) provides a compelling case study. In August 2025, Prasa attempted to implement fare increases – its first adjustment in a decade – but faced immediate backlash from trade unions, commuter groups, and civil society.
The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) argued that fare increases should be tied to inflation and warned that steep hikes would alienate commuters still reeling from the high cost of living.
The public outcry proved effective. Prasa revised its fare structure downward, maintaining discounts for school children (50 percent off for those in full uniform), military veterans (50 percent off-peak), and senior citizens (50 percent off-peak). A 40 percent off-peak discount also remains in place for general commuters travelling between 9am and 2pm.
The United Commuters Voice (UCV), which led coordinated objections, confirmed that Prasa’s retreat demonstrated the power of stakeholder engagement. “Your voices have made it clear that decisions affecting the poor must be made in consultation with key stakeholders,” said UCV National Chairperson Paul Soto.
In contrast, the Western Cape’s experience with Golden Arrow Bus Services’ 4 percent fare increase in August 2025 drew sharp condemnation from Cosatu, which demanded an immediate reversal. The union argued that public transport should be treated as a public good rather than a profit-driven scheme, noting that many workers spend 30 to 40 percent of their income on transport.
South Africa’s approach – which includes transparent engagement, subsidies for vulnerable groups, and tying increases to inflation – offers a potential model for Lesotho. However, implementing such a system would require political will and financial resources that may be limited.
The MRTO has indicated that consultations will continue as it seeks to strike a balance between maintaining operations and addressing public concerns. But with the May 1 implementation date fast approaching, time is running out.
In Qacha’s Nek, according to the Lesotho News Agency, local taxi operators have already expressed alarm at the proposed increase. Driver Tšepo Tlokotsi suggested that a smaller increase ranging between M15 and M16 would be more reasonable, warning that many passengers may stop using taxis altogether if fares rise too steeply.
“We already struggled when fares increased from M8 to M13. Some passengers still do not pay the full amount. With M23, it will be even harder to manage,” Tlokotsi said.
The irony is not lost on observers: the government recently considered only a two percent salary increase for civil servants, making it virtually impossible for public sector workers to absorb massive transport hikes.
Some commuters have also questioned the consistency of fare adjustments, arguing that fares are rarely reduced when fuel prices drop.
“They increase fares when petrol goes up, but they do not reduce them when prices go down,” one passenger said.
As the May 1 deadline approaches, the stage is set for a confrontation that could see mass protests, reduced ridership, or both. Whether the MRTO and government can find common ground before the fares take effect remains uncertain.
What is clear is that without a transparent, predictable, and equitable fare-setting mechanism – one that incorporates regional best practices and genuine stakeholder engagement – Lesotho’s commuters and transport operators will remain locked in a cycle of conflict that serves no one’s interests.
The clock is ticking.
