Taxify, one of SA’s leading taxi services with an international footprint in over 25 countries, and growing rival to the better known Uber service, is now available in East London.
The taxi service began operating in the city at 6am on Tuesday morning, after recently announcing they would be expanding to Polokwane and EL.
Taxify first launched its services in the Eastern Cape more than a year ago when it started operating in Port Elizabeth.
East Londoner Charles Bosman, who owns one of the vehicles used for Taxify, said he had been waiting for the global company to come to the city.
“I had approached them more than a year ago, when I first learnt they had an interest of expanding with the possibility of coming to East London. Now they are here. Over the past two weeks, they held training sessions with the drivers, but today at 6am we officially started operating,” he said.
East Londoners welcomed the new application on social media, expressing excitement to what could mean cheaper and affordable transport all day every day. Some commuters shared their first-time experience with the service provider.
Link FM presenter Lukho Mkwedini said she arrived home safe travelling between Southernwood Square and Parkside.
“First day of Taxify in East London and I got home safely in this terrible wind,” she said.
Cape Town resident Dumisani Dabadini said he was over the moon with the service. “We’re still going to have a nice time in East London,” he said.
While Ongeziwe Marasha said: “Night life will be more easier and people will fill up clubs.”
Marasha could have been referring to how people can now have fun and enjoy clubbing without having to worry about driving while under the influence or the lack of transport at irregular hours.
However, while many stand to benefit from the services, Taxify is likely to have a different effect on cab services around the city.
Eagles taxis declined to comment, while Eugene Mfaxa of Eugene shuttles and cabs services, who launched the Ntuza App offering the same service as Taxify last year, said he was disappointed he did not receive any support when he launched.
“When I launched the application, I was threatened by taxi people who warned me not to go through with the application, even though I had opened it up to everyone in the industry, asking them to come on board so we can work together,” he said. “Nobody showed any interest when it was me as a black man, but now everyone is welcoming Taxify with open arms.”..