Doors open for ‘gaartjies’ in taxi trade

THE door of opportunity has opened for taxi conductors, also known as gaartjies, to obtain their learner’s licences.

This week, 30 conductors will begin their journey to get their learner’s licences and ultimately their driver’s permit in a bid to help improve their employment prospects.

The group will join a project headed by the Wheatfield Estate Foundation Trust, Bazil’s Traffic School and the Caravelle and Lentegeur Taxi Association (Calta) to professionalise the industry.

Johan November, 47, who has been working as a conductor for 20 years, said he couldn’t contain his happiness when he heard about the project.

“This can only be a benefit, because it’s scarce that we gaartjies get such opportunities,” he said.

“I went for my learner’s twice. I used the money I got from my job as a gaartjie, but eventually life became too expensive and I couldn’t go again.”

November said obtaining a driver’s licence would increase his potential earnings so that he can continue to put food on the table for his family.

“I hope I will be sitting in the driver’s seat by next year. I waited 20 years for change, not in money, but life change and its finally happening now.”

November said this investment motivated the gaartjies.

Member of the Western Cape Legislature Ricardo Mackenzie, who has been a part of the project, said the aim was to improve the lives of conductors.

“We want not only the gaartjies to feel like they working towards a future, but also want commuters to know with assurance that the drivers got their licences the proper and formal way,” he said.

Mackenzie said the project would be funded by all three organisations, with the hope of more conductors will becoming involved.

“Nazeem from Calta will be paying for the ID photos and printing of documents; Bazil’s Traffic School and Wheatfield will do the bulk of it. However, an exact figure can’t be given yet because it depends on these (conductors’) commitment,”

“We want to get these gaartjies employed as taxi drivers and get the opportunity for them to become taxi owners, so its all about the commitment to the programme, and who is willing to come for classes and complete the (course).

“Its something I am looking forward to.”

Bazil van der Merwe said he was approached by Calta to help with the initiative.

“I can only see positive things coming from here. I’ve heard of (conductors) who have been working the door for decades, but because they didn’t have the finances to go for the learner’s and driver’s classes they opted to stay as gaartjies.”

Van Der Merwe added that he had already secured appointments for

the first batch of conductors to write their test.