More choice in getting around in SA as Taxify grows quickly
Another app-based taxi service operator, Taxify, is planning to further disrupt the South African taxi industry — a market that its CEO, Markus Villig, says is ripe for the picking. Until 2012, meter taxis had no competition or rival. But this changed in 2013 with the arrival of US private car service, Uber, as well as the approval of tuk-tuks, normally associated with India. Both offered cheaper and alternative ways to move around in the city. Taxify launched in SA 10 months ago. SA is the fastest-growing region for the group in all 16 countries it operates in. Taxify is also in Nigeria and Kenya. Villig said Taxify drivers had not been as harassed by meter taxi drivers as Uber drivers had. "There haven’t been many issues but the ones that do arise, we give our drivers as much support as we can. We educate every driver about the best places to go or not to go to avoid trouble. There is also a support line they can call if they are having difficulty," said Villig. There are currentl...
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