More than two-thirds of women who use public taxis and taxi ranks have witnessed violence and harassment‚ according to a survey conducted by advocacy group ActionAid South Africa. ActionAid SA found that 56% said they had experienced violence, and 69% said they had witnessed it. A third of the women surveyed said the solution was to create awareness about women’s right to use safe public transport‚ while others said more security was needed. The research was conducted last year as part of a campaign by ActionAid SA‚ the City of Johannesburg and the South African National Taxi Council to mark Global Safe Cities Day. The campaign aimed to raise awareness among taxi drivers‚ marshals and commuters about the violence and harassment women face when they use this form of public transport. ActionAid SA cited the research in a statement released on Thursday after reports this week that several women had been raped on taxis in Gauteng.
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