SLICE: Taxi violence

By: Ofentse Tladi

An unknown person was shot at Southgate Mall while using e-Hailing services.

Taxi violence has always been a topic I've always pondered about. Growing up in a closed bubble and not being exposed to the realities of life, I never understood the wars the taxi industry was always involved in.

I naively thought, if I was in that position, I wouldn't let myself get bullied or threatened. It's easy to say stuff about things you've never encountered but once you're placed within that situation, it's not as easy as you think.

Like the deceased who was shot by a taxi driver, my right to choose the type of transportation I'd like to take was shattered by a taxi driver on March, 17. I was trying to order a ride from Park Station when I was intimidated by two taxi drivers who were very adamant on stopping people from requesting e-Hailing services.

When threatened by someone who can and will hurt you, there is something that awakes within you at that moment, something you least expect. You no longer care about your rights as a passenger or who is right or wrong. You're simply aware of the advantage the taxi drivers have over you and to a certain extent, you have no choice but to listen - to obey.

Passengers are often advised to order e-Hailing rides a walking distance away from Park Station to avoid the ire of taxi drivers. As a woman in South Africa, walking with luggage in the streets of Braamfontein is not the most ideal thing one should do.

You feel the eyes on you, you feel the danger and at the same time, you feel the helplessness. You hardly ever want to take a chance. And, you know nothing can be done because you voice compared to a group of potentially armed men is essentially nothing.

The Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized crime, which serves to unpack assassinations in South Africa, indicated that half of targeted killings in South Africa happen within the taxi industry. Contact crime, which according to the South African Police Services (SAPS) Crime Statistics is taxi related. The category of this type of contact crime resulted to a total of 759 in the years 2019/2020, consisting of common assault, assault causing grievous bodily harm (GBH), attempted murder and murder. 

Through the 15 million commuters the South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO) estimates it shares, the Safe Ride Campaign, which is a campaign that advocates for nonviolent behavior towards customers, indicates women to be the majority who depend on public transport as they perform more caring work. This says a lot about the safety of women, typically those who use public transport. 

I think taxi violence is a cry for help.  With unemployment rates skyrocketing, of course competition would be one’s worst nightmare but at the same time, no life should be taken over competition. Everyone is trying to get their own. Everyone is essentially trying to put food on the table.  

You must have a choice. You must have a voice. The rights of passengers are the rights of people.