Travelling by public transport in rural areas requires a lot of patience, bravery and endurance. There’s no rail system whatsoever, the bus service is limited and rather erratic. Traveling by taxi means waiting long periods in the sweltering heat or in the rain. Taxis don’t have a timetable – they only move when all the seats are occupied – which means another long wait for those already in the minibus.
To beat the long wait commuters hike for lifts from passing motorists – which often leads to a confrontation and a beating up by “taxi patrol squads.” Lately, there have been reports of people going missing after taking “a hike” from a passing motorist. Is a functional public transport system only for urban residents in SA? Is there a plan to change this nyakanyaka of a situation?
Will this issue form part of president Cyril Ramaphosa’s focus during the State of the Nation Address next month?
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