Madam,

With kombis (mini buses) being the most common and widely used form of transportation in the country, somehow it has become the most dangerous. We can all agree that with the country’s current economic state, each one of us would gladly appreciate saving that E10 for short distances and take a lift from a friend, relative or a kind stranger.

Apparently, this thought does not sit well with our fellow brothers in the public transport sector, especially those in short distance routes. We have seen these cause serious conflicts in South Africa, where minibus taxi operators have actively discouraged hitchhiking.

 They have been observed parking along well-known hitching corridors and instructing drivers not pick hitchhikers, effectively redirecting them to formal transport. We have also seen minibus operators acting identically in our country, which is known for its peace.

I have experienced this first-hand, where a friend offered me a lift at the bus stop, while a minibus was riding behind him and the driver raced the car all the way from Sidwashini, to the traffic lights by Galp Filling Station.

Upon stopping by these lights, he called us all sorts of names and threatened my friend, trying to make him regret his act of kindness.

The question is: If the heat is too much for you, why not step out of the kitchen?  Yes, the streets are dry, the competition is high, we see them reverse and race each other to get the most customers, that’s the fun in public transport operation. However, that does not mean passengers’ rights must be violated in the process. It is very unacceptable to fight and force me to support your business, even if I have a better option, I must have the freedom to hitchhike and accept a friend’s lift, without having to fear being harassed by these operators.

Imagine a food outlet stopping your spouse from bringing you lunch at work just because they want you to buy their food, so as to increase their revenue. That is almost the same thing we are facing as passengers. I believe that before entrepreneurs pursue a business adventure, they are aware of the risks and challenges they may face, yet they still proceed anyway.

In conclusion, I would like to encourage public transport operators to aim at attracting and convincing more passengers to use their transport, so as to boost their business instead of the aggression they display and fighting the competition. Yes, private drivers are not the competition, but they stand a better chance at getting people to ride with them because, they drive more safely, arrive on time and their cars are more comfortable.

, I would like to encourage public transport operators to aim at attracting and convincing more passengers to use their transport. (Pic: Sourced)