21/07/2016
The South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) is making another stab at introducing cashless smart card payment systems in minibus taxis, a violent initial response notwithstanding.
This time it wants to revolutionise how commuters conduct other financial affairs too, on top of bringing the rowdy taxi industry in line.
Over the next four years, commuter taxis under Santaco will gradually become cash-free, with customers preloading cash on to a Fair Pay card, called the FairCard, that is swiped inside the taxi. The fare is deducted electronically.
The system will also allow commuters to buy groceries at selected retail outlets, with a monthly limit of up to R3 000, or a once-off deposit of up to R2 500, in competition with bank debit cards.
“The card is completely free to obtain, and for taxi trips carries no transaction charges,” says James Chapman of Taxi Choice, Santaco’s trading arm. “It is also a cheaper option for other payments: even though the buyer does have to pay a transaction fee set by each trader, we are hoping over time – and once we acquire a critical mass of customers – to be able to negotiate better banking fees for users of our cards.”
Do you think this is a great initiative or we are not yet there to implement a system like this?
The smart card will benefit taxi drivers, commuters and owners - but previous attempts to introduce it were met with violent opposition.
