In a country where taxis ferry 15 million people daily—75% of all commuters—South Africa's drivers have become unsung heroes during the pandemic. Meet Sabina Mahlase, a female taxi driver for over 30 years, whose story reveals the grit behind the wheel in these unprecedented times.
🚗 The Road Less Sanitized
'I must be stronger now,' Sabina says, wiping down her minibus at dawn. Like thousands of drivers, she faces empty seats (thanks to lockdowns), mask-resistant passengers 😷, and the ever-present fear of infection. Yet, she keeps moving—literally powering a transport sector that prevents South Africa's economy from stalling.
💪 Survival Mode: Sanitizers & Solidarity
Drivers now double as hygiene enforcers, spraying hand sanitizer like confetti 🎊 before each ride. Sabina laughs: 'I’ve become everyone’s mobile hand-wash station!' But the struggle is real—her earnings have halved since 2020, forcing her to skip meals to feed her grandkids.
📸 A Day in the Life
Our local photographer rode shotgun with Sabina, capturing her joking with nurses commuting to hospitals and bargaining with vendors for cheaper face masks. 'If we stop,' she says, 'the whole country stops.'
Her resilience? Pure South African spirit—proving that sometimes, hope wears a taxi driver’s uniform. ✨
