Alexandra taxi drivers use the off-peak hour to keep themselves in good shape
ALEXANDRA– Taxi drivers on a mission against obesity and perceptions about the industry.
Taxi drivers in South Africa are usually associated with being chaotic, violent, reckless driving, causing road rage and killing each other for taxi routes but drivers from different associations operating in and around Alexandra have embarked on a mission to curb such perceptions.
Instead of sleeping under the trees during off-peak hours drivers have decided to use the time to keep themselves healthy and strengthening work relationships between their respective associations, who are always at war, through playing soccer. According to Muzi Mavuso of the Tembisa-to-Alexandra route, playing soccer help them exercise their bodies and get to know each other.
“Soccer is a common sport to us black people. We’ve realised that most of us came to the industry with bodies in good shape but as time goes by we gain weight and become fat. We’ve decided to form teams according to our routes and play each other to fight obesity and related diseases,” said Mavuso.
“Every Wednesday during the off-peak hours we converge as ‘different routes’ operating in Alexandra to have fun and exercise while getting to know each other better.”
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