South Africa’s minibus taxi industry is a powerhouse, handling roughly 70% of the country’s daily commutes. Yet behind this vast network lies a system driven less by formal rules and more by relationships, trust, and unwritten agreements. New research highlights how “social capital”—the networks connecting taxi owners, drivers, and associations—keeps the industry running smoothly, helping coordinate routes, resolve disputes, and finance vehicles. At the same time, those same networks can reinforce power imbalances, exclude outsiders, and sometimes fuel conflict over routes. Experts argue that future reforms shouldn’t try to erase this informality. Instead, a “hybrid” approach that embraces these existing social bonds while introducing digital payments and fair labor contracts is the key to a safer ride.
The Conversation
