The other day I found myself singing along to Beyoncé’s ‘Irreplaceable’ in the minibus taxi. I usually confine the performances to my room, with the deodorant bottle as my mic. But that’s just the great thing about the minibus taxis – you can sit back, relax, sing your heart out and be sure that you will be dropped off at the doorstep of wherever you want to be.

Sarah Osman

About Sarah Osman

Sarah Osman (1980) was born in Sudan, and has been living in the Netherlands for the past 11 years. She’s been working in the field of development cooperation for the past 3 years, and has recently decided to take her skills and knowledge back to Africa. Her first stop is Cape Town, South Africa. In her column, she will share her experiences of what it is like to rebuild her life on the continent.

Wisdom
The minibus drivers will lend you an ear if you’ve had a tough day. On the same day of my Beyoncé solo, I was coming back from a job interview. I was the first passenger in the taxi. The driver greeted me and asked “Are you in this area often, maluv*?”

“No, I was just here for an interview.” I replied.
 

“Is it? How did it go?”
 

“Good! I hope I get the job, I really like the company.” 

“You mustn’t hope man, hope is for people who have no chances. You must work and push at it and you’ll get it.”

Words of wisdom, I tell you.

That’s service!
I’ve tried to support the city bus, but it’s just no match for the minibus. There are no cold glass screens between you and the minibus driver. There’s no stop beeper thingy that you have to press when you’ve reached your destination: you simply say ‘Plaza driver!’ or ‘Thank you!’ and the car will stop and drop you off. 

There are usually two guys in the minibus – one who’s task is to drive and beep the horn to attract passengers and the other one hangs out of the window and shouts the destination in a sing-song way and collects the fare. He’ll also help you carry your shopping into the car, or fold your baby carriage up and set it next to you once you and the baby are seated. He’ll ask you to move to the back if an elderly lady steps in so that she doesn’t have to squeeze between the passengers.  He’ll then curve his arm around her and make sure she steps out of the car safely. Forget what they told you - the minibus is a highly recommended mode of transport in Cape Town.

Comfort zone
The minibus puts me in my comfort zone. Sometimes I go to the Gardens Centre for some ‘luxury’ goods that I can’t find in Obz.  Within a few minutes I long to be out of there and in the minibus. The Gardens Centre is architecturally telling: the Pick n Pay (budget supermarket) is on the ground floor and Woolworths (top-end supermarket) is on the floor above.

If that’s not saying let’s keep the riff-raff out of sight, I don’t know what is. But as soon as I’m in the minibus, I’m comforted by the clicks of Xhosa and croaks of Afrikaans because I’m back with the Capetonians I like best.

*my love