Compassionate taxi drivers in Cape Town embody Ubuntu spirit

Two taxi drivers from the Cape Organisation for the Democratic Taxi Association (CODETA) have been commended by residents for assisting a young woman who could not afford transport to a job interview.

Sibusiso Teyiya and Lucky Mangala were working at the Site C taxi rank in Khayelitsha last week when the woman approached a marshal asking for help with a taxi fare to Cape Town on Wednesday, February 19. 

Mr Teyiya said at first, one of the drivers seemed uninterested in her story.

Because of rank rules and restrictions on overloading, he and Mr Mangala could not offer her a free ride, so they decided to contribute money instead. "I decided to give her some money to get a taxi.”

Mr Mangala then asked her if she had money for lunch, and she said no. “We asked other drivers to help, and they gave her some lunch money.

Mr Mangala said she gave her money so she could return home after the interview. 

Mr Mangala said they were moved by the woman's determination. “She told us it was her second time being called for this interview. The first time, she didn’t even have money to get there. It made us realise how important small acts of support can be,” Mr Mangala said. 

Both drivers also addressed the negative stereotypes often associated with the taxi industry. “We are frequently labeled as ill-disciplined, rude, or smelly,” Mr Teyiya said. “That is not true of everyone.

"Many of us are passionate about our work and committed to our communities. We are here to provide for our families, and respect is a two-way street. We love and respect our commuters, and we ask that they show us the same respect,” Mr Mangala said.

Chairperson of the Ward 87 Development Forum in Site C, Xolani Dywili, praised the taxi drivers’ act of kindness. He said taxi drivers are often associated with rudeness and poor behavior, but this gesture shows that the spirit of ubuntu—a key principle that brings people together—still lives on.

He urged other taxi drivers to follow the example set by these two and called on commuters to treat drivers with respect and show small acts of kindness.

Ward 87 councillor Khayalethu Khama added that moments like these serve as a reminder of the importance of always showing kindness and love.

He said there was value in helping one another and described the act as vital in reviving a culture of selfless support within the community. However, he also called on the taxi association to discipline drivers who misbehave to ensure that peace and respect prevail in the industry.

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