A former taxi owner and driver is delighted with the conditions as a Rea Vaya bus driver, and says only old age would prompt him to leave.

Connecting the inner city

HIS bus is clean; he too is immaculately dressed in a striped red and white shirt and a dotted red and black tie. Every now and then, he flashes a smile at passengers getting on to the bus. This is Ronnie Monnakgotla, a Rea Vaya bus driver.

Monnakgotla, who has been with Rea Vaya for a little over a year,says he is content at the company and enjoys his job.

He plies the C3 route, which connects Braamfontein to Joubert Park and other areas in the inner city. According to Monnakgotla, the buses on the C3 route are usually empty in the afternoons but packed in the mornings and evenings.

A former minibus taxi owner and driver, a sad chuckle escapes his lips when he talks about his old life.He tilts his head slightly to the side and his eyes stare into space. He says he has mixed feeling about the taxi industry. For a long time it allowed him to provide for his family, he explains.

"I joined the taxi industry in 1976 but only realised along the way that the industry was not as rosy as I thought it was."

During his days as a taxi owner and driver, he would start work in the wee hours of the morning and knock off sometimes at 7pm or even 10pm. This meant that he did not spend quality time with his family; and he worked every day of the week.

At Rea Vaya, every driver is entitled to a day off once a week. They also get a four hour break between their two shifts.

Monnakgotla, who sold both his minibus taxis when he heard about Rea Vaya and how the City had plans to partner with people in the taxi industry, says he would not mind growing old and retiring at Rea Vaya.

"I told myself that the only thing that is going to make me leave Rea Vaya is old age because I am happy there and have not encountered any major problems that would make me want to leave."

Monnakgotla is part of the 256 permanent employees - former  taxi drivers - currently working for PioTrans the company managing the Rea Vaya bus operations.

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