A hitch-hiker’s perspective: ‘It is not a choice but a necessity’
A man who travels between Mankweng and Polokwane daily in search of work, says he is aware of the risks and dangers that comes with hitch-hiking.
POLOKWANE – Hitch-hiking has become a norm for many people for reasons varying from saving money or wanting to arrive at a destination quicker.
Morwalo Mojapelo, a hitch-hiker, travels between Mankweng and Polokwane daily in search of work.
He tells BONUS that he does odd jobs and often has to travel to Polokwane because he stands a better chance of getting piece jobs. “These odd jobs can sustain me for a week if I happen to get a bigger job to work on,” he says.
Mojapelo, however, complains about being given a tough time when trying to hitch-hike.
“The taxi associations intimidate us to prevent us from hiking. At times, they force us out of the vehicle that we get a lift from and tell us to get into a taxi instead,” he says. Mojapelo says that if he had a choice, he wouldn’t hitch-hike because of the dangers that come with it, however, he doesn’t have a choice because he doesn’t make enough money.
He is aware of the dangers that come with hitch-hiking and is willing to take the risk if it means that he will be able to have food for the day, he tells BONUS.
“The taxi fare from Turfloop to town on average is R42 for a return trip. I make just R50 a day, if I am lucky. This means that I will be working for transport money and won’t be able to do anything else if I use public transport,” he says.
Read more: Taxi associations take issue with hitch-hikers
BONUS previously reported on hitch-hiking and in June, the Mankweng Taxi Association urged commuters to use taxis rather than to hitch-hike following an increase in robberies from Polokwane to Mankweng. At the time, the chairperson of the association, Charles Sefoko said the association can’t stop anyone from hitch-hiking but that it becomes a problem when the robberies are reported to the association.
Sefoko urged commuters to approach them should they not have enough fare for a taxi.
The association’s public relations officer, Frans Kgasago declined to give comment on the matter, only saying that “hitch-hiking is not permitted”.
