“Mageza” throws out blind Senzo, Blind Senzo left stranded
“The lady stopped the next taxi and asked the driver before we boarded if he had any problems ferrying blind people in his taxi" - Senzo Mbonambi.
Some taxi drivers have cultivated a negative reputation for themselves, creating a stereotype of reckless, impolite drivers who are only interested in making a buck while brushing aside commuters’ concerns.
Who can forget a few years ago when a woman was stripped naked and sjambokked at the Noord Street Taxi Rank in Johannesburg, for allegedly being inappropriately dressed.
Fast forward to November last year when Lead Change Development co-director Senzo Mbonambi, who is blind, was allegedly ordered out of a taxi for his disability.
According to the aggrieved Mbonambi, he was ejected from a taxi by the driver who told him that he didn’t transport blind people.
He related this painful encounter at a recent workshop hosted by his organisation for people with disabilities at the Kopanong Community Centre in Dobsonville last month.
The workshop’s objective was to bridge the gap in the workplace for people with the disabilities.
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Mbonambi said of the incident, “I couldn’t believe that we are living in such an intolerant society until I experienced it first hand.
“I boarded a taxi in the morning from home in Roodepoort to work in Dobsonville. I paid my fare like everyone else in the taxi. The driver told me that he doesn’t pick up blind people in his taxi at which I asked for an explanation.
“He then handed back my R20 and told me to get off the taxi.”
A woman passenger stood up for him and reminded the driver that Mbonambi was also someone’s else child and that he shouldn’t be disrespected because of his blindness.
The woman demanded that the driver also return her fare. The sympathetic woman left the taxi with Mbonambi while the other commuters continued to their different destinations.
Mbonambi said, “The lady stopped the next taxi and asked the driver before we boarded if he had any problems ferrying blind people in his taxi.
“He welcomed both of us and dropped us off at our different destinations.”
The incident brought emotional scars to Mbonambi’s memories and realised how abnormal we are living in the intolerant society.
Mbonambi said that despite being unable to see the driver, the painful experience would haunt him for the rest of hislife.
The Dobsonville, Roodepoort, Leratong, Johannesburg Taxi Association (DORLJOTA) secretary, Veronica Mosiapoa said it was unfortunate that the victim couldn’t identify the taxi because of his blindness.
“We urge the lady who went out of the taxi with the victim to come forward and help us to identify the driver involved. If the suspect is being identified, our disciplinary committee will deal with the suspect. Every commuter has a right to board a taxi, irrespective of his condition or disability,” said Mosiapoa.
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