NTTU denies price fixing

NTTU denies price fixing The Namibia Transport and Taxi Union (NTTU) has dismissed a cautionary notice issued by the Namibia Competition Commission (NaCC) last week warning the union not to impose fixed taxi fare hikes without due process.

The union, in a media release this week, said it wanted to “set the record straight”, arguing that a price list issued by the union in July at a press conference has not yet been authorised to be implemented by its members.

Union president Werner Januarie confirmed that a price list was compiled by the NTTU but added that the list “has not yet been authorised to be used and has not yet been distributed to our members for their usage or implementation thereof”.

The NTTU statement said it challenges anyone to prove that the union has distributed the list to members and given the go-ahead to implement those prices.

He said as such “no one can insinuate or conclude that we intend to collude with anyone or fix prices”.

He further noted that NTTU members were informed of “technical errors and some discrepancies found on our price list, that still need to be rectified before the distribution of set list can be carried out.”

According to a price list made public in July by the NTTU, taxi drivers willing to implement the fares, would increase prices from N$10 to N$15 at a minimal, and as high as N$55 for some routes.

At the July press conference, Januarie said the road transportation board is reviewing the NTTU's application for a 50% increase this week, but warned that whatever the outcome “we are going ahead and implementing the 50%, whether someone likes it or does not like it”.

Januarie this week underlined that the union's position has not changed and said the NTTU will “strongly support our request for a 50% taxi fare increment and wish to call on our members to remain calm and wait for further guidance, as well as directives from the NTTU leadership.”

The NaCC last week underlined that the Competition Act prohibits competing undertakings such as taxi operators from jointly colluding on prices charged to consumers unless such conduct is authorised in terms of other relevant laws such as the Road Transport Act.

They warned that “taxi operators who collusively and intentionally impose fixed taxi fare increases without following the due process set out in the Road Transport Act will render themselves liable in terms of the Competition Act and thereby attract a formal investigation which may lead to punitive civil and/or criminal sanctions.”

Januarie said any accusations of collusion or price fixing against the union are “misleading, malicious and without basis”.

JANA-MARI SMITH