Smart taxi drivers taking off
"No one can make you serve customers well. That is because great service is a choice."
This is the steadfast belief of the Ivory Park Taxi Association’s (IPTA) local chairman, Mr Vusi Dlamini.
The statement comes fresh on the heals of the IPTA’s call for local taxi drivers to adhere to a formal dress code from Mondays and Fridays.
Mr Dlamini said they are one of the growing associations in the country and the members need to be more disciplined.
“Some passengers call taxi drivers ‘Maqheza’, which means the driver does not bath. We want to avoid this. Taxi drivers are business people who need to be respected by the community. It all starts with them. We are encouraging our drivers to prove themselves to their customers,” he said.
He said they have urged their drivers to wear long sleeve shirts, a tie, trousers and formal shoes.
“Our goal is to see them getting used to a formal dress code. The drivers found wearing informal clothing, as if they were going to a own spaza shop, will be fined until they dress smartly. We want to have leaders,” said Mr Dlamini.
Drivers are also being urged to keep their taxis clean.
“We have a good relationship with our customers and we want to keep it at best possible level. Our customers should not feel afraid to interact with the drivers. They are encouraged to report misbehaving drivers. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time, we will harvest the rewards if we do not give up. Let us do good to all the people,” he said.
One of the IPTA’s local drivers, Mr Thulani Mkhwanazi, said that he was happy about the new dress code because they have been disrespected by many commuters.
“At least we look like those working in an office. We are also business people. I promise to keep clean and to always dress correctly. Neglect starts like an infection. If you do not take care of it, it becomes a disease. One neglect leads to another. This will help us regain our self-respect,” said Mr Mkhwanazi.
