Absa and CFAO automotive dealer network have partnered with the taxi industry to ensure about 500 taxi drivers from Springs Taxi Association (STA) in Ekurhuleni and other areas get their eyes tested and many others issued with prescription spectacles at no cost.
This important initiative aimed at helping reduce road accidents will see TT Matlou Optometrist from Brakpan conduct eyes test on taxi operators from Springs and surrounds, with prescription spectacles issued if required.
Explaining the inspiration behind the drive and why it’s important to the companied involved, CFAO Taxi Affairs Group Executive Solly Msiza said the initiative was driven by their deep desire to give back to the community that supports them.
“The ‘why’ was simple because we needed to give back to the taxi industry, in particular the Springs Taxi Association for the immense support they have given us as CFAO Group South Africa. The Absa Taxi Finance, together with CFAO Group put together a development fund to do just that. “We looked at what can we do to give back, and this is how the initiative was birthed in 2020,” Msiza said.
Many of the drivers from STA do not have medical aid. Putting
money aside for regular checkups and glasses is something beyond their means, and CFAO believed that by offering this service, they would be serving both the drivers and commuters.
“What we identified was that taxi drivers are battling to take care of their eye health and needs. We decided instead of giving out money, let’s do something that will benefit both commuters and the drivers in a meaningful way,” Msiza said.
“As you would know, most of the accidents on our roads are
happening because the driver will tell you ‘I did look left and right as required and the car was far’, only to find that the vision was not good. So, this exercise is to also assist with curbing the high accidents rate on our roads.”
Absa Taxi Finance Department executive Solomon Ramajela echoed Msiza ‘s words.
“This is something that is very important for us as Absa as it touches on the core of who we are as a financial institution that cares about the well-being of the communities it serves. We want to ensure our drivers are safe when they’re ferrying commuters around.
Elaborating further on the importance of a service such as this, he said: “We know the impact of poor eyesight on our roads – that people lose lives. And we don’t want to assume that the accidents that we see on our roads are caused by taxi drivers because they’re reckless. We partnered with Dr Matlou as an eye specialist.”
However, this exercise is not geared towards taxi drivers only, he tells TaxiWorld. “We are also testing taxi executives because some of them are treasurers and we need someone to look after the industry money, whereby they know what they’re doing, they shouldn’t make mistakes because of eyesight.
He said they’ll be vising other areas immediately when the campaign wraps up in Springs. “In two months’, time, we will be in the Eastern Cape in Umtata.”
One such is female taxi operator Nthabiseng Senghlahane from Slovo Park informal settlement who benefitted from this initiative.
