CAPE TOWN. – Cape Town’s minibus taxi industry has begun a major shift to cashless payments, with the Cape Organisation for the Democratic Taxi Association (CODETA) launching its new system on 1 June.
How the system works
Commuters use a prepaid card that is scanned when boarding, or a scan-to-pay option from a smartphone, instead of handing over cash. CODETA chairperson Nceba Enge said the move is aimed partly at improving commuter safety, especially for workers travelling early in the morning and late at night, and that cameras would also be fitted inside taxis.
Industry backing
The South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) in the Western Cape welcomed the initiative, with its spokesperson Makhosandile Tumana saying it wanted to extend cashless payments across all its regions to help tackle problems in the industry.
