Two recent events have once again highlighted the bullying uncompetitive attitude of the South African Taxi industry. Firstly there was the shooting of a bus driver in Mamelodi together with the associated violence and then this week the harassing tactics against Uber drivers and passengers outside Sandton City confirming this attitude.
The use of “mini buses” – colloquially called black taxis – as the preferred method of transport for the lower classes in South Africa arose as a direct consequence of Apartheid. The use of these vehicles is an aberration as it is cheaper to use other modes of public transport such as buses and trains rather than these smaller vehicles. Moreover these vehicles were never designed to carry 18 passengers.