THE two-tone maroon and white Valiant Charger glides along majestically before coming to a halt, throwing dust into the air. Its driver is a study of cool in dark shades.
As he gets out, with six passengers – two in the front and four at the back – the scene suddenly feels like a time machine foray back to 1970s’ Durban.
Except it’s now at the city’s one-of-a-kind Clairwood Taxi Association in Archery Road.
This is where a fleet of 1970s Valiants and Datsuns have defied the passage of time, still going strong as taxis after four decades.
The classic cars would sell for between R25 000 and R70 000, although their owners are in no hurry to sell.
Operating from a makeshift taxi rank under a bridge on the M4 Southern Freeway, the taxis provide affordable transport for people commuting to work daily in the industrial precinct.
They’re also the answer for many fruit and vegetable hawkers transporting wares bought at the Clairwood Housewives’ Market – a trip which still costs a paltry R3.
“We like these taxis because they’re quick, and the drivers are friendly and careful on the road. Using them also means you don’t have to walk through places where you can get robbed in the mornings,” said a passenger, Sindi Ngcobo.
However, the convenience comes at a price for the drivers and taxi operators. Not only are they almost held to ransom by passengers who threaten to boycott the service and rather walk if the fare goes up, but the work hours are almost as long as in the minibus taxi business.
The first load leaves the rank at 4.30am, the last at 6.30pm.
Roy Pillay, who drives a cream Valiant, said he enjoyed his job, but wished people were more generous. In his 30 years as a taxi driver, he is yet to receive a tip.
“The hours are long, plus loading and off-loading can make you tired. Most of these people are poor; they’re just trying to make a living, so there’s no way they’re going to tip you.”
Founded in the 1930s by Gokul Bundhoo and his brother, Issiri, now both dead, the pioneering taxi operation was once one of Durban’s biggest, with up to 38 taxis.
Robin Issiri inherited the family business in 1980 from his father and went into partnership with his cousin, Sunny Gokul. They renamed the business Robin & Sunny’s Taxis.
The fleet has dwindled to eight vehicles. Not that it bothers Robin’s son, Shakes Issiri, the happy-go-lucky driver of a blue and white Datsun 260C.
“A number of factories have closed because of the influx of cheap Chinese imports. It has affected us.”
One of those had employed 500, he said.
“If they hadn’t shut, we’d own minibuses by now. So, businesswise, it’s not that busy any more. That is why there is no need to expand.”
Issiri said the nature of the taxis endeared them to the public. “People don’t have to wait for 40 minutes before they can move,” he said, flaunting the car’s electric windows, DVD player and sound system.
Commuter Sifiso Nzimande, 41, who works at the local market, said, “I’ve been using the taxis since I came here in 1989. We were paying 60c for a trip to the market. Now it’s R3.”
Therein lies the problem. Despite countless fuel price increases, the service is still one of the cheapest in town, putting a strain on operations.
“We are here to serve the people, but every time we want to put the price up people say they’ll walk to the market. It’s not right, man,” said Issiri’s older brother, Shane.
The taxis sometimes take passengers as far as Umlazi or Durban CDB, which enables them to negotiate fares and improve profit, but their licence stipulates they may not exceed a 50km radius.
Although the taxi operators have collected spare parts, making maintenance easier, keeping the six-cylinder gas guzzlers going remains a challenge. Despite the problems, Shakes Issiri is adamant they will carry on. “Our grandfathers started this. We will keep on going for as long as we can.”
