Unlike New York, London or Paris taxi drivers, those in Jo'burg do not know their city. It seems the only requirement to operate as a taxi is a car. So if you don't know exactly where you are going you are better off not even embarking on your journey. They rarely run the meter, if they even have one. They will charge you whatever they think they can get. I learned it is best to tell them what you want to pay rather than asking them what the fare is. This whole experience is extremely frustrating and annoying. One should avoid any taxi driver with a Merc; they're the worst of the lot. They think because they have a big, expensive car you should help them with their loan payments.
I discovered from a local that the Jo'burg taxi drivers are essentially a mafia organization. That is, they wield a lot of power because there is no public transportation system - no buses, no subways, no streetcars or trams. When initiatives for new/alternative transportation are proposed by the government they are killed by the taxi mob. The public is totally at the mercy of these scheisters.
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