Behind the wheel with Randburg taxi drivers
Delve into the world of the taxi driver, as they strive to make money for themselves and their families, while offering a vital service to the community.
Taxi drivers, known to most as Abo Mageza, are helpful to the community they are based in. Be it getting you from point A to point B, or getting you to places you have never been at before, their mode of transport is, for the most part, the most reliable and safest public transport in Johannesburg. A lot of people, however, would disagree with the safe part, as some believe they don’t follow the rules of the road and overload their taxis, while some drive far too fast.
Read more: The unspoken language of Johannesburg, a guide to taxi gestures
Over the years, the taxi industry has grown rapidly, leading to them forming their own taxi associations. One of the biggest taxi associations in the country is the South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO). On May 28, Randburg Sun visited Randburg taxi rank, a station that harbours over ten taxi associations, and has been of help for both locals and those travelling long distances.
Nipho Mkize, a commuter who usually catches his taxi at the rank, said: “I don’t really like taxis, because they are always crowded, especially the Isiyaya one. People don’t like its backseat because it is small and uncomfortable. They never have change in the morning, but, they’re still more affordable than an e-hailing service, and they’re really fast.”
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Working in the taxi industry may come across as making easy money, however that is not at all true. Some taxi drivers mentioned that they get tickets from the National Traffic Police, and, instead of law enforcement writing the disc number or writing a ticket to the owner of the taxi, they, as drivers, receive the ticket. Sometimes they receive citations because of the condition of the vehicle, which they feel is unfair, as some of these taxis do not belong to them, they’re only working as drivers.
One of the drivers at Randburg taxi rank, Stout Mthunzi, noted that he has been working in Randburg since 1998, before the taxi rank was even established. “When waking up in the morning, you have to know that you will be working with people. You have to leave your problems at home, and treat your customers right, so that they can support you. Working here has been very helpful, as I’m able to take care of my family and provide for their needs and wants at any given time. Finding a job in South Africa is a struggle, and I had to stand up as a man and make sure that I support my family, financially.”
Not all taxi drivers are rude and not all of them require you to communicate with them in one language. They are humans, trying to make a living for themselves and for their families, and with Randburg taxi rank being one of the biggest taxi ranks in Gauteng, its drivers have helped community members to find their way through Randburg and neighbouring suburbs, and will continue to do so.
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