Dankie Phoy’sa!

It’s no funny business when a taxi driver is being reckless on the road, not only is he putting us in danger but also other road user’s. Whether Mageza is driving on the wrong side of the road or above the speed limit doesn’t make it right purely because ‘uMageza’.  While I understand that there are a number of reasons why they do what they do, like passengers who are late for work or some stokvel, or Mageza in a hurry to get his second load but reckless driving doesn’t solve anything. In fact it causes more problems than anticipated.

We think we have a say on how ‘uMageza’ drives but sometimes I feel like we don’t have a choice, wait until he stops suddenly and everyone in the taxi is tossed back and forth like a defrosted Vienna. In that moment you will know that what you say does not matter. Women always complain, saying things like; “Haibo asifuni ukufa thina.”, “Wooo wasinyusela ushukela bo.” or exaggerated screams, hoping that ‘uMageza’ will get the message loud and clear. Sometimes we are in a hurry vele but not in such a hurry that we’d risk being injured or worse. It’s no light matter  when your heart is beating so fast that you can’t remember where you going or where you come from or your palms sweating like the Vaal dam, you won’t feel like saying “Dankie Driver” you will say a two second nyana prayer just for you to get home.

Last week Tuesday on my way home from work, I was shocked as the taxi got full ‘uDriver’ got in and he couldn’t stop talking. This driver I usually get driven by him but his never like this, as the journey progressed it was clear that he was drunk, and a few old men were condoning his driving. They were saying things like; “uyayi shaya imotor lo driver” or “ekseni kufuneka wena driver, sizofika early.” The women on the other hand were totally against this, including me. As we approached the Golden Highway there was a backtrack of traffic and he decided to drive on the oncoming traffic lane, and he was speeding. At that point I was praying in tongues, in that moment of desperation the lifesaving siren sounded, it was metro police! After attempting to speed away they caught up with him, he was arrested and one of the metro cops drove us home safely. 

Sometimes we don’t like seeing ama-traffic cop but this time I believe he saved our lives and on behalf of everyone in that taxi sithi dankie Phoy’sa!