Ae Tle Ka Di Seat Basadi sees women in the driving seats
The Polokwane main taxi rank was a sight to behold as dozens of women occupied the drivers' seats and ferried passengers between the city and Seshego on Sunday 28 August.
POLOKWANE – The unprecedented Ae Tle Ka Di Seat Basadi campaign, which begun in the late hours of the morning, has triggered talking points among commuters who were transported by women, dressed in white and blue T-shirts.
The women’s cause was conducted in partnership with the Seshego/Polokwane Taxi Association (SPTA) in a calculated bid to empower and woo women into the taxi industry.
Of course, this was a fitting way to celebrate as the curtain fell on the celebrations of Women’s Month.
The brain and driving force behind the women taxi drivers campaign, Anikie Sibiya, said the aim was to encourage women to showcase their ability behind the steering wheel and those who own taxis to prove that women can make a positive impact on the industry.
Sibiya said the idea was formulated last year in August after watching a programme on SABC 2, Motswako, when she learned of women taxi drivers from Gauteng and North West.
“After watching this programme, the idea as to how best can we introduce this to Limpopo formed. It was such an inspiration to see women who have made such a positive impact in a male-dominated industry. These women from Gauteng and North West have been in the taxi industry for over three decades and have since turned this work as taxi drivers into a profession to pursue. With the 30 years they have been in the industry, they have built families and through the money they have generated in this multimillion industry, they have managed to fund the education of their children.
“However, I have realised Limpopo women don’t drive taxis. This made me to come up with this initiative. Our wish is to encourage more women to come to the fore after the Women’s Month celebrations. We call upon aspirant women drivers to submit their CVs for consideration, especially those with public drivers’ permits.”
The taxi industry in South Africa is notorious for being dominated by male drivers but Sibiya reckons: “By bringing more women into this line of business, there will be peace and courteousness as women in families have managed to bring peace and stability”.
