The Minibus Diaries

Today is the third day traveling to work via the minibus taxi & I can already tell that they will be a unique adventure everyday.

First to explain the minibus taxi's: They are basically run by self-employed duo's of men. One is the driver, and the other sits by the door yelling out to people on the street either "CAPE TOWNNNN," or "SEA POINTTTT," depending on which direction you are going to. The "caller" then collects your 5 Rand (basically $0.60) and you wait til you tell him when you have to get off.

On Monday, myself and four other girls who are interning in the City Bowl caught a minibus taxi. While we got on the crowded bus, another one pulled up behind which was rather empty. As the driver in the 2nd bus honked, our caller yelled to the other taxi "you don't even have your license!!" oh dear.

On Tuesday, our driver pulled over to pick up a passenger on the side of the road, and our caller jumps out of the minibus, runs behind it, and starts pushing the "press to walk" button at the nearby crosswalk, then runs back into the minibus, and starts laughing to himself. We all think this man is absolutely absurd, until we turn around and see the next minibus taxi behind us stuck at a red light--because of the button he pressed. And that is how to sabotage another minibus taxi. lol.

Sidenote: "minibus" is relative. They're more like soccer mom vans.