Taxi industry no longer so lucrative, more violent
Taxi drivers are often scorned by other motorists for reckless driving, and they also operate in an industry which is dogged by a reputation for violence.
The Advertiser caught up with three inspiring taxi owners from the Boksburg Taxi Rank who shared some of their memories, challenges and successes of being in the taxi industry for over 20 years.
Agripha Moloi (63), Boy Mahlangu (59) and David Ndlovu (51) have all witnessed the changing era in the taxi industry, but they are still holding on because it’s the only job that puts food on their tables.
Mahlangu, who has been in the taxi industry for 31 years, remembers that he started driving a taxi while he had no licence.
He said he worked at the taxi rank for few years before finding a job with a company called Lawn Mower Services, where he fixed grass-cutting machines.
Unfortunately, he lost this job and had to go back to driving a taxi, but, he said, he now enjoys being in this industry more than anything else.
“Taxi rides back then used to cost 90c from Boksburg town to Vosloorus,” Mahlangu recalled.
”During those years my taxi load was worth R5, because I was still using a private car which seated only five people.”
According to Moloi, the taxi industry is now a danger zone, because every taxi driver carries a gun to protect themselves against their enemies.
“There is no longer respect among us taxi drivers,” he said.
”Back then, when you wronged someone you would apologise and move on. Now taxi drivers threaten each other with guns if they are in each other’s zones.”
Ndlovu who has been in the taxi industry for 25 years, said back then taxi drivers made money; they had many loads, because there were fewer taxis, but now there are so many vehicles they carry only four loads a day.
The three drivers described their everyday routine, which includes waking up at 4am to start work at 5.30am.
They said the best times for business are at month end, weekends and peak hours.
Taxis queue at the rank and wait for their turn to take position.
They said while waiting for their turn to take position, they sit in their vehicles and chat about anything. Sometimes they play pool and buy food to gain energy for the whole day.
According to the three drivers, traffic officers are the only challenge they face, as they are always on the taxi drivers’ case.
“It’s hard not to break the laws of the road, because we are always in a hurry – that is why normally people say we are bad drivers, but the truth is that we have to do what we have to do in order to chase money,” said Moloi.
”This taxi industry is now a competition, so when you snooze you lose.”
Proof that these inspiring men have achieved success is the fact that all three are now taxi owners.
Moloi has two taxis and has been promoted to being a rank manger.
