FORGET about Clint Eastwood, there’s nothing like unreliable transport to make your day. Or a first-time ride in a taxi, for a white boy.
Andrew Vogelaar works in the South Coast Herald’s production department. He wears shorts, has a text-heavy tattoo on his left leg, which attracts a lot of attention but does nothing at all to make him appear fierce.
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The other day he was on his way home to Margate with his brother Richardt (yes, correct spelling) when their car broke down near the Shelly Centre.
“We realised we had no option but to take a taxi,” he said.
At that stage he was thinking more about his chances of surviving a trip in one of these heat-seeking missiles, the types that have been known to make atheists seek immediate divine intervention.
Being stranded on the side of the road… not so much of a concern.
However, in the words of Yoda, ‘stranded on road for long he wasn’t’ and he was forced to face his fears. A taxi shot past, but it was going in the opposite direction.
No problem, Richardt shot out his arm, more in vain hope than anything else.
The taxi, which was empty save obviously for the driver, jammed on the brakes so fast it appeared to have been hit by an opposing, invisible force.
Reminded one of the way Bismarck felled Dan Carter a few years ago, but I digress.
The driver twisted his cab around with more agility than an Olympic gymnast, and coasted towards them.
“Margate? No problem, get in let’s go,” said the driver.
The brothers Vogelaar sat right at the back. Must have been quite a sight for regular commuters as they could be twins, and they have direct Dutch heritage.
Being in the cab was interesting.
“It was an eye-opener for sure, in a good way though,” said Andrew.
His world opened up to the wheelings and dealings of some of South Africa’s finest entrepreneurs.
“It was the most random business model I have seen,” he laughed.
He explained:
The front seat passenger is the accountant, he or she handles the money.
But it can be anyone at all. When he or she gets off, the next passenger takes over this role.
The person nearest the door is the marketing manager. He or she communicates with the public, who’s going where, that kind of stuff.
“It’s so strange but it works so well.”
“No one tries to keep the cash. I found these were mostly the coast’s working people, not the pocket pickers of this world.”
“Everyone who subsequently climbed on board was really friendly and at no point did I feel unsafe,” he said.
Well, that was until the driver put on his Sebastian Vettel helmet and took off down Marine Drive.
“I know taxi drivers get a bad rap but this guy was great. Yes, he could make that taxi move, but it was quite an experience.”
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