4 Plus 1 taxi association monitoring team in front Nathaniel Sparks Thulare, (back) Motlatso Snake Matloga and Karabo Makitla showing 4 plus 1 taxi stickers. photo by Dimakatso Modipa
4+1 taxi drivers in Mamelodi will improve their image from now going forward so as to make them presentable to commuters.
This is according to 4+1 vice chairman Nathaniel Thulare known as Sparks.
“We want our drivers to be very clean, they must not wear short pants, they must not wear flip-flops (tlap-tlap), their cars must be clean and be respectful towards commuters,” said Thulare.
He said they want to see 4+1 taxis reaching high standards.
Thulare said to show that a vehicle is a bona fide 4+1 taxi it will have stickers of MATA, 4+1, FELDTA and NTA.
He said these stickers have been placed on 4+1 taxi vehicles because in the recent past there was a case of a serial killer who was posing as a taxi driver and people assumed that he belonged to 4+1 taxi association.
He revealed that all 4+1 taxi vehicles operate from 5am to 10 pm and that 4+1 taxi vehicles which are on the road after hours must be the ones which are on “special duty” or the ones whereby the driver is travelling with his family and must produce proof in this regard.
He said 4+1 taxi association has two patrol squads which operate from 6am until 9pm and 9pm until the wee hours of the morning respectively to make sure that there are no “pirate taxis” on the roads.
According to Thulare, any vehicle found to be operating as a “pirate taxi” will be impounded and taken to 4+1 taxi association offices and its owner will be issued with a fine.
He appealed to the community to stay safe and their drivers to drive safely during the Easter holidays.
He said 4+1 offices are situated at Balebogeng Centre and in Silverton, and that those who have forgotten their goods or parcels inside 4+1 taxi vehicles must contact Thabo Ngwenya in Mahube between 9am and 5pm.
Those who want to contact 4+1 taxi association may phone Nathaniel Sparks Thulare on 0836477359