Taxi industry beefs up systems

As of last week, in addition to the introduction of Buzi’iTaxi, a new app which was introduced to the public, to better relations between the taxi industry and commuters, now passengers can enjoy free Wi-Fi at Springs and Brakpan’s main taxi ranks.

“Phase one of our new development is that all our passengers with smartphones can now use Wi-Fi freely while at our main ranks.

“And in the near future, this will be available in our vehicles.

“We are very happy as business people that in the east, we are the first to get this, and are very excited with all the improvement of technology by Tom Tracks, as it is helping us to perk up our services and benefits our customers,” says public relations officer (PRO) of STA, Thomas Kabini.

PRO of GBTA, Abel Letsoara, adds that though not all things will be perfect at once, they are happy that at least now, through this technology, they can be closer to the people they serve.

“Phase two of our development plans is that, as the associations, we will be providing our taxi drivers with first aid training.

“This is so our drivers will be able to use a first aid kit, which we plan to have in our vehicles in the future,” says Letsoara.

The two associations state that phase three of their new development will be to ensure taxi drivers don’t change passengers from one vehicle to another at areas where they are not allowed to.

“If this happens, we request our commuters to take the registration numbers of both the vehicles involved and report it to us.

“Problems that arise from this rapid swapping of people into different vehicles while they are already on the road, is that passengers’ parcels get lost.

“The drivers know the suitable areas where they are allowed to swap passengers from one vehicle to another depending on the route they are taking, therefore we will ensure that this is monitored,” says Kabini.

In addition to that, the 4+1 small taxis transporting people in the townships will also be monitored.

“In Brakpan we don’t associate with these small taxis, however, in Springs they know that their demarcation is only to operate in the township.

“These drivers are not permitted to do any special deliveries to or from town, therefore if we find them operating in the CBD, the vehicle will be impounded and the driver will be fined by the associations,” adds Letsoara.

Both associations have encouraged passengers to use the new app and Wi-Fi to improve their experience.

There are also various campaigns that are currently being run at the main taxi ranks to educate commuters on these changes.

Founder and CEO of Tom Tracks, Fanele Mnguni, says the app currently only caters to people with smartphones, as that is the direction new phones are moving towards.

But, if the need arises, they will look into assisting people who don’t possess smartphones, so that they can use USSD codes to get these new services.

For more information, call the STA on 011 815 6241 and the GBTA on 011 744 0162.