Two recent books, "A Fork in the Road? The Formalisation of South Africa’s Minibus Taxi Industry" and "Blood on the Tar, Hope on the Horizon: South Africa’s Minibus Taxi Industry in Global Perspective," offer a nuanced exploration of South Africa's minibus taxi industry, drawing on over a decade of research. The books examine issues such as formalisation, labour precarity, regulation, governance, violence, mobility, and social justice, raising important questions about whose knowledge counts in understanding and transforming African institutions.
The taxi industry in South Africa is often described using terms like "informal," "unregulated," "illegal," or "difficult to govern." While these labels capture some of the industry's problems, such as poor working conditions, exploitation, violence, and conflict, they also obscure the reality that the industry contains extensive knowledge, organisation, and social practices developed by those who work in and depend on it.
Researchers have found that taxi drivers, operators, marshals, and commuters possess valuable knowledge about the industry, including its routes, economic pressures, and social dynamics. This knowledge is often overlooked in policymaking, which can lead to ineffective solutions that fail to address the industry's complex problems. By recognising the value of local knowledge, policymakers can develop more informed and effective strategies for transforming the industry.
The concept of "informal" is particularly problematic, as it can imply a lack of organisation or backwardness. However, an institution can be informal without being disorganised. The books highlight the importance of understanding the industry's existing social systems, rules, norms, and hierarchies, which may not resemble those of formal institutions but are still effective in their own context.
Formalisation programmes, such as the Taxi Recapitalisation Programme, have not always led to improved working conditions for taxi drivers. Replacing old vehicles or introducing formal regulations does not automatically make jobs safer. The industry's social relations and power dynamics can remain unchanged, even with policy interventions.
African philosophy, particularly the concept of ubuntu, offers a useful perspective on the taxi industry, highlighting the interconnectedness of human existence and flourishing. This relational approach can help policymakers understand the industry's complex problems and develop more holistic solutions that take into account the experiences and knowledge of those who work in and depend on it.
The books' authors argue that Africa should not merely be a place where theories developed elsewhere are applied, but rather that African realities can also produce theoretical knowledge. By recognising the value of local knowledge and experience, policymakers can develop more effective and sustainable solutions for transforming the taxi industry and addressing the complex challenges facing South Africa.
Key points
- Local knowledge and experience should be recognised as valuable contributors to the production of knowledge in understanding and transforming African institutions.
- The concept of "informal" can be problematic, implying a lack of organisation or backwardness, when in fact informal institutions can have their own social systems and organisation.
- Formalisation programmes should take into account the existing social systems and knowledge of the taxi industry to develop more effective and sustainable solutions.
