10
around
town
CityViews October 2012
Keeping Cape Town mobile
DID YOU KNOW?
Photo: Jacques Marais Media
According to Arrive Alive, South Africa’s minibus taxi industry consists of approximately
150 000 vehicles with more than
20 000 owners and
200 000 employees – with an estimated turnover of more than
R16.5 billion
Close to 35 000 commuters take minibus taxis as their primary mode of transport in the Central City
How did you become a taxi driver? I’ve only been a taxi driver for six months, but I have been in the industry for several years. Before I became a driver I worked as a guardtjie, operating the door. Now, because I have a driver’s license and professional driving permit, CV
as well as permission from the taxi association, I am working driving one of a fleet of 40 taxis, all of which are owned by one guy. CV What does your day look like? I wake up at 03h00 and drive from Phillippi, where I live, to Woodstock where I park the taxi overnight. By 05h00 I am in Sea Point, picking people up who are coming into the city for work. Firstly, it’s people like security guards and restaurant staff who need to get into the city for early shifts but later it’s all sorts of people: domestics, office workers and school children too. I spend my day driving between the city and Sea Point, until 19h00 when I return the taxi to Woodstock. All in all, I work about 15 hours a day, seven days a week.
photo: Lisa Burnell
CV Who are your customers? When I take people from the Central City to Sea Point, it can be anyone: tourists, locals, old, young – all
What’s a day in the office like for those whose business is on the road? City Views' writer Ambre Nicolson stopped by the Cape Town Station taxi rank and spoke to Mzi Phephani to find out.
sorts of people. My customers are very multi-racial. In fact, if you look in the back of this taxi, often you will see the whole rainbow nation, from Asians to Indians, white, black, and coloured people! CV What music do you play in your taxi? Personally I like reggae and any music I can sing to, but my customers like a very wide range, all different kinds from gospel to house music. I have noticed that people of different ages like different music so now I always look to see who is in the back, then I choose what music I think they would like. If it’s old people I choose some R&B or some gospel maybe, if its youngsters I play house music. CV Are you a safe driver? I think so, yes, but you know, as a taxi driver you have to keep time. Time is money. So sometimes you have passengers that say, “Please go faster, I am late!” but then at
other times you have people that say, “Slow down!” You have to be careful and listen to your customers. But I don’t do four-four [the practice of seating four people in each of the four rows of seats in a taxi], my taxi is only 3, 3, 3, 4 – so it only fits 12 people. CV Do you like working in Cape Town? I like almost everything about Cape Town. I like the infrastructure, and it’s a beautiful city, right? And the people are lovely here. My favourite place in the city is Long Street. I love that place, especially at night when it is very vibey.
A trip between Sea Point and the CBD by minibus taxi costs R6 (regardless of where you get off) and you can hop on and hop off pretty much anywhere along the major transit routes.
Taxi driver Mzi Phephani at work on his route on Strand Street
ITUDE T T A E UD GRATIT
Keeping the wheels of the Central City turning
photo: Lisa Burnell
Everyday acts of kindness help transform Cape Town into a more liveable, caring city. City Views would like to recognise those individuals who don’t think twice about doing their part.
Alec van de Rheede doesn't think twice about going beyond the call of duty
Do you have a positive experience with someone in Cape Town? Send your story to judith@capetownpartnership.co.za
City Views recently received an email from Charline Jantjies, whose car broke down in early September at the busy interchange of Christiaan Barnard Street and Table Bay Boulevard. CCID Deputy Security Manager Alec van de Rheede came to her rescue.“My car was giving me some problems and I was under tremendous stress – I didn’t know what to do. Within five minutes of my incident one of the CCID employees, Alec van de Rheede, arrived at the scene where he offered
assistance. He then called in one of his other colleagues Clive Pietersen. He immediately looked at my car and offered to take me to the shop where I could get new parts to fix my car. Within the hour my car was fixed and I was back on the road. Both men kept me so calm and went out of their way to help me – they really went the extra mile. They are true professionals and a real asset to South Africa ... I am so thankful from the bottom of my heart, words can’t describe how I feel.”
While changing a tyre, pushing a car or giving lost tourists directions aren’t part of the CCID’s core function, Alec believes that these actions are part of creating a sense of community in the Central City. “I believe in leading by example – consistent service and passion for our work is something that we want to instil in all our officers. Our commitment to go above and beyond the call of duty often takes people by surprise, but it leaves them feeling that we care.”