Manyowa Nong, Shared Mobility Africa, believes digital transformation of the taxi industry is a medium-term prospect. Photo: Karolina Komendera

Opinions are undoubtedly divided on the minibus taxi. For those commuters who rely on them, they’re probably somewhere between a cost-effective godsend and a necessary evil; for other road users, there’s a good chance it’s the latter. The role of these passenger vehicles in South African society, however, can’t be underplayed.

There are said to be between 200 000 to 250 000 taxis on the country’s roads offering vital transport solutions for 10 to 15 million daily commuters; overall, between 60% and 70% of the population relies on them in one way or another. The taxi industry itself employs about one million people, and, says Justin Coetzee, CEO, GoMetro, taxis also serve as a form of savings and enable the building of an asset class for people who wouldn’t necessarily be able to own and operate a business.