Women geared up for taxi industry
CONTRARY to popular belief that the taxi industry is an exclusively male-run sector, women in the Western Cape are proving to be an equal driving force behind ensuring the services’ success.
And in one of the biggest taxi bodies in the province, the Congress of Democratic Taxi Associations (Codeta), women hold more than half the leadership positions, said Andile Khanyi, the association’s secretary.
Khanyi chuckled knowingly when he spoke to the Cape Times about the role women played in the industry.
“They have more to do with the way things operate than many people think. Just because you don’t see the women actually driving the taxi does not mean they do not have a significant presence in the industry.
“Codeta is a non-sexist association, and women hold more than 50 percent of the positions in admin and decision-making. Many are also taxi bosses,” Khanyi said.
Codeta represents about 2 500 taxi owners, which cover 26 routes, including Khayelitsha, Mfuleni and Wesbank.
Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association’s (Cata) interim secretary Malibongwe Gqoboka echoed Khanyi’s stance and said women also played an indirect role, as they were the wives and mothers of male taxi drivers.
“They offer support to their loved ones who have to go out on the road every day,” Gqoboka said.
Cata is responsible for the operation of 24 taxi routes, including routes in Hermanus, Villiersdorp, Beaufort West, Strand and Stellenbosch.
An example of a woman leading the way in the taxi industry is the story of Linda Roman, 59, who has been in the business for the past 24 years.
From Kensington, Roman is the chairperson of the Kenfac Taxi Association, which represents 54 taxi operators from Kensington and Factreton.
She is also the secretary of the Greater Cape Town Region, a branch of the South African National Taxi Council (Santaco), and the owner of four taxis.
In her free time, she volunteers as a gym instructor.
“I fought to make a name for myself in this industry a long time ago. While there are a significant number of women entering the business, there can always be more,” Roman said, adding that women still faced a lot of discrimination.
Roman does not drive her own taxis. She hires people to do it.
“This is a tough business and it can get very dangerous on the road. Male and female taxi drivers put their lives on the line on a daily basis as gangsters and thugs board our taxis, posing as ordinary citizens, then all of a sudden they pull a gun out on you.
“I think that is why a lot of women choose not to drive. But they definitely hold positions of authority,” Roman said.
Santaco is an umbrella body for a number of taxi associations.
Santaco regional chairperson Leon Williams said a “good percentage” of the taxi owners were women.