/ 11 May 2005

No easy ride for taxi drivers

Dumisani Ndlovu wakes at 4am to start his 15-hour day, seven days a week. Each morning the 45-year-old taxi driver, a father of four, climbs into his minibus with one mission in mind — to reach his target. If he doesn’t complete enough trips and earn enough money for the taxi owner, his wages are docked. On Monday, Friday and Saturday he is required to make R600; every other day of the week he must make R500.

“I get paid R700 [per week] if I reach the target, but if I fail I usually get R400 to R500,” says Ndlovu. “We have to make money and if you don’t make it then they fire you and get another person.”

The pressure of meeting targets forces drivers to complete more trips more often and leads to reckless driving and sometimes fatal accidents. Ndlovu says some taxi owners beat their drivers if they fail to reach target, but says he is fortunate as he has “an understanding boss”.

Another driver, Patrick Rakabe, complains that in addition to having to meet daily targets, he also has to pay traffic fines if his vehicle is found to be unroadworthy. The taxi owner refuses to pay fines and tells drivers it is their responsibility. The R500 a week Rakabe earns is not enough to support his wife and six children. “I buy for one child this week and then for the other next week.”

Patrick Jele wears a leg brace, the result of being shot while driving through Soweto in 1996. He points to his scars and several places where bullets are embedded in his body. He cannot use his right hand, but says his right arm still functions properly. Jele says he receives a disability grant each month but has never been paid compensation by the owner of the taxi.

“My [former] boss never paid me even a single cent since I was shot. They don’t care about drivers. The thing that matters most to them is money,” says Jele.

Drivers say the new minimum wage will improve their quality of life considerably, allowing them to apply for credit facilities. “We will have guaranteed salaries and be able to open accounts,” says Ndlovu.

The National Travel Survey released by the Department of Transport last year found that 48% of commuters who use taxis are dissatisfied with the service. Reasons vary from safety concerns to a lack of facilities at taxi ranks.

“We risk our lives as most of them don’t drive very well … most accidents are caused by them,” says John Lephoto, a commuter.

Despite the dangers, most commuters have no choice but to use taxis. Convenience is a key issue as, unlike buses and trains, taxis run at all hours and can be flagged down anywhere, anytime.

Sthembiso Magagula, a commuter from Orange Farm, says overloading of taxis by queue marshals is a problem. But he says passengers are also to blame as they squeeze into taxis that are already full when they are in a hurry.

Another commuter, Consolation Setlai, says the frequent fights between taxi drivers over control of routes pose a danger to commuters. “It is bad because when they shoot each other we are involved. If they fight with sticks then it is their own problem.”

Magagula says some taxi drivers are rude and abusive to passengers, but that passengers accept this as they are afraid of the drivers, who have a reputation for being aggressive. “There are situations where we want to burn the taxis but we are scared. If we do that, they might kill us.”