THE STATE OF LOCAL TAXI AFFAIRS

Minibus taxis in South Africa are as prevalent as braais and beadwork. They’re so much a part of the landscape that the legendary Brenda Fassie immortalised them in a smash hit, Zola Budd. Yet, their present reality is a little less rosy

- YOLISA QUNTA

Between rule-breaking on the road, violent infighting and the new threat of e-hailing companies, we need to ask the question: “Does the taxi industry have what it takes to safely transport the millions of customers who rely on it daily to get to work, as well as restructure the industry enough to fight off the competition?”

PUBLIC TRANSPORT

If you’re a South African with no car, it’s highly likely that you’ve spent a lot of time squeezed into the seat of a taxi as you navigate your daily life. These rides range from comfortable to perilous, but the reason why the industry is still thriving is because they offer a fairly inexpensive way of getting from one point to another. They’re not always safe but with no other options until recently, passengers have been forced to grin and bear it.