25 Jun 2013

They are not the pioneers of the industry, but certainly Tsabong taxi drivers have managed to introduce a sought after service in an area where inhabitants are accustomed to walking to various destinations.

Now that the prospective clientele is not used to the idea of riding on taxis, the drivers find themselves entangled in a situation where sticking to one route may deny them business opportunities and consequently follow the route of the customers’ choosing because as they say, customers are always right.

But like any other business taxi drivers are beleaguered by challenges though the business promises to be a lucrative one more especially if people could be converted to dump their walking ways and take taxis.

Some drivers complain bitterly about those ‘pirating’ their customers while still away delivering those who have boarded to various destinations.

Those unpermitted drivers are not only accused of operating illegally, but are also reportedly charging customers exorbitantly and hence fuel the shunning of taxis by the people who are yet to appreciate the service. 

These illegal operators are said to be taking advantage of those gullible and ignorant about the service but are willing to take a ride.

“Potential customers sometimes shun our taxis because they can’t tell a difference between the genuine taxis and others without permits,” Mr Gorileng Ntau complained and added that the pirates stifle them of what is slowly becoming a viable business enterprise.

Mr Ntau who is affectionately referred to as Lesh in the taxi industry is one of the few taxi drivers in Tsabong and he ventured into the business upon realising that some people were in dire need of public transport.

Notwithstanding the fact that change was difficult to effect on people especially when they are accustomed to a practice which they are comfortable with, Lesh is optimistic that the people of Tsabong will soon appreciate their service.

“There are sides where we are certain that we will be ignored and going there is a total waste of fuel,” Lesh observed.

Another taxi operator Mr Daniel Matlale, formerly a driver at Kgalagadi Land Board, corroborates Lesh’s observation that people are not used to driving in taxis in Tsabong since it’s a new phenomenon to many of them.

Dan as Mr Matlale is popularly known to his clientele started operating a taxi in Tsabong sometimes in 2001 but gave up the idea upon realising that he was running at a loss.

However, he resuscitated the idea March this year after realising that the business was more profitable than before. He then quit his job as a driver and concentrated on a business enterprise that outweighed his salary.

Dan who believes that the taxi business is lucrative at its infancy because there are only a few players currently views many gravel roads as a challenge to his daily operations. Tsabong is naturally a sandy terrain and to ameliorate that the council has constructed many streets in a gravel format.

At the moment there are only five taxis operating in the village and a good number of them started operating March this year.ENDS