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Sat May 26 06:17:10 SAST 2012

'I'm no racist'

Taxi industry wants to launch airline

Sapa | 29 June, 2011 10:0730 Comments
File photo of taxis
File photo of taxis.
Image by: Simon Mathebula

The taxi industry wants to expand into other transport modes including buses, trains and even airplanes, the SA National Taxi Council (Santaco) says.

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"We will be launching a low-cost airline," Nkululeko Buthelezi, business development officer for Santaco, told potential investors and reporters in Johannesburg.

"I can see some of you rolling your eyes because of how our taxi drivers drive... I can assure you we won't allow our taxi drivers to drive (the planes)." The airline would be officially unveiled on September 16 and take to the skies by November.

Buthelezi said the routes Santaco was looking at, such as Lanseria to Bhisho, made sense for their customers, who often made a 14-hour road trip for a funeral and had to return five hours later.

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Taxi industry wants to launch airline

For Commenters Consideration | Please stick to the subject matter

COMMENTS [30]

TheEditor

Posted 331 days ago
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well the low cost airlines are no better than a taxi

Deeteem

Posted 331 days ago
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I have never heard anything this ridiculous since the anc was unbanned !!
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PinkAndProud

Posted 331 days ago
Very appropriate comparison!

livo

Posted 331 days ago
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That's some funny ish.

Banana_Republic

Posted 331 days ago
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I can picture the Airlink Jetstream at Mthata being blasted full of holes during a route war.

Bart365

Posted 331 days ago
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I can see them "TAXI-ING" down the runway for Take Off.....

ROFLMAO!!!!!!!!!!

Cut corners, jump Stop/Go instructions etc!

What a JOKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"SANTACO AIR"...... the jet on the Apron, with the ROOF RACK and BMW HUBCAPS!

Think.First.Then.Speak

Posted 331 days ago
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I really wanna say something positive about this, but all I can think of is... What are the chances of getting my luggage back.

Sisie

Posted 331 days ago
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What? Aren't they flying their passengers to work fast enough down the M1.
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MsLee

Posted 331 days ago
@Sisie - wahahahaha!!

Hillbilly1

Posted 331 days ago
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Will they be issuing each passenger a free parachute - no strings attached?

LethlogonoloSealetsa

Posted 331 days ago
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This is what the Majority of South Africans are tired of, Been ridiculed by the minority. This is a good business move for the Taxi operators and they will be governed by the same rules that govern SAA, Khulula, Mango, etc.

I find this comment here very insulting
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ARJ

Posted 331 days ago
The reason taxi operators/drivers get ridiculed is because they behave like spoilt children, its got nothing to do with minority/majority stuff. Get a life and wake up!
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LethlogonoloSealetsa

Posted 331 days ago
The people referred to in this article are taxi owners who are respected business people, they are not the ones driving reckless on the streets everyday.

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SteveDC

Posted 331 days ago
The same way that they're governed by the same traffic rules that govern other road users? Don't make me laugh.
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jbravo

Posted 331 days ago
I'm sorry, but I don't find an inability to control one's driver's as an employer very worthy of respect. Just because one owns a business, it doesn't mean they are ethical or immediately deserve respect. Standards need to be met and I hope for the majority AND minority's sake, they manage their air travel endeavors enormously better then they manage their minibus endeavors.

Just saying...
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ARJ

Posted 331 days ago
Yeah right,well if the 'respected business people' took responsibility for their industry and cleaned it up there would be no need for this conversation. 'Tarred by the same brush' springs to mind.
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StraightTalk101

Posted 330 days ago
Agreed 100%...every time when black people want to do things for themselves, by themselves there are always ridiculed by a section of white people who believe blacks must seek approval from them first to pursue their goals... They are also ridiculed by a small minority of fellow blacks who suffer from inferiority complex caused by psychological damage of apartheid. These blacks with low self esteem believe anything good must be done by white people. This type of thinking has to stop. I say go for it SANTACO... They are showing some innovation and business acumen which sadly is lacking within the fellow black community I mentioned above.

thato.mogane

Posted 331 days ago
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Do they have the people within their organisation to deliver such services i wonder??

FlyFire

Posted 331 days ago
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I can se it now ... the next generation airoplane ... taxi style. Bad wheels, bashed up bodywork and about 50 people in the space meant for 10. Oh and imagine the air space ... taxi driver style overtaking and jumping queues and robots

SAA, Kalula and the rest ... beware
Put bull bars on your planes before it's too late
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pixel8in

Posted 331 days ago
...and stopping where ever they like! A Disaster in the making.

Scarface4U

Posted 331 days ago
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I foresee disaster in the skies soon.

CarolBell

Posted 331 days ago
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What I don't understand is how this initiative can be in operation by November. That is 5 months down the line. Why is it only accounced now? It must have been planned for a loooooong time - this indicates some kinda snake in the grass.
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EliasMabuza

Posted 331 days ago
dont crack too many brain cells trying to figure out this rediculous report. its what we call a jest!

snosrap

Posted 331 days ago
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Apparently they will use Air Aquarius's pilots and aircraft.

Make no mistake, they have a captive audience to market the product to.

Thanks God they aren't trying to 'go it alone' because there is no ways in hell they would pull it off.
Ever, ever, ever......

efil4zaggin

Posted 331 days ago
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Had to check the date just to be sure it wasn't April 1...That aside, if they want to set up an airline, let them. The beauty of the airline industry is that if you don't have your head screwed on the right way round, you won't be taking off. So don't stress, let the clowns continue to entertain us with the jokes.

Mediagab

Posted 331 days ago
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Ya the taxi drivers wont fly the planes! they'll either crash them of fail to even get off the ground! I wonder if the maintenance of the planes will be the same as that of some of the taxis Ive seen on the road. Will be a major problem for the other airline companies as we'll now have idiots flying planes into other planes!

uluz

Posted 331 days ago
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Yep……,at last a good job for juju with big bucks , as he can definitely get the job as the senior pilot thru his tenderepreneurship ability , if he doesn’t smoke his whonga too much.
Just a passing thought is that if they pack a boeing 737 with 2000 inmates like the taxi gets packed , they might not get off the ground and will have to trundle down the N1 to durbs , stopping willy nilly to embark and disembark the passengers. Makes the mind boggle.

SquirrelMan

Posted 331 days ago
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Moohaha... This is epic. I wouldn't mind paying a hundred bucks for a flight from Jozi to Cape Town. Brilliant plan though. This just proves there's growth. But they ought to put more effort into their service and etiquette.

StraightTalk101

Posted 330 days ago
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Every time when black people want to do things for themselves, by themselves there are always ridiculed by a section of white people who believe blacks must seek approval from them first to pursue their goals... They are also ridiculed by a small minority of fellow blacks who suffer from inferiority complex caused by psychological damage of apartheid. These blacks with low self esteem believe anything good must be done by white people. This type of thinking has to stop. I say go for it SANTACO... You are showing some innovation and business acumen which sadly is lacking within the fellow black community I mentioned above.

swona1

Posted 329 days ago
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going to get my membership back! good business oportunity!