The best way to get from point A to point B? Get to a pavement and stick a finger in the air.

Millions of South Africans who are taxi commuters know this tool of communication only too well.

Like many African cities, cities in South Africa have a chaotic informal public transport systems in the form of minibus "taxis". These are not taxis in the typical Western sense of the term - they won't give you a lift to your doorstep. Rather, they are small-scale bus services, often unmarked, operating with neither timetables nor formal stops.

The multi-billion rand minibus taxi industry carries over 60% of South Africa's commuters. The industry is almost entirely made up of 16-seater commuter kombi buses which are sometimes unsafe or not roadworthy. Minibus taxi drivers are known for their disregard for the road rules and their proclivity for dangerously overloading their vehicles with passengers.

Taxi Language
With limited public transport residents rely on minibus taxis. But don't expect them to stop for you unless you have an in-depth knowledge of taxi sign language. On any street corner in the townships of Johannesburg, you'll see people gesticulating widely. Catching one requires an expert knowledge of the taxi sign language.

You stand by the side of the road in known, but unlabeled spots, and you make a hand signal. Point a finger up to say you want to go to town. A finger pointed down if you want a local taxi for somewhere near. There's many hand signs that you just pick up as lore.

More adventurous travellers will find minibus taxis an interesting African experience - the closest you may get to mixing with ordinary people. But use of the taxi system for anything other than a short drive requires an expert knowledge of the unwritten lore of hand signs indicating which taxi is travelling where, and an understanding of the various routes and how they intersect.

History
Law restricted taxi operations until 1977 to sedan motorcars fitted with fare meters. In 1977 minibuses were introduced to the taxi industry allowing one driver and fifteen passengers.

Today minibuses, dominate 90% of the market, and metered taxis are active in the remaining 10% of the market.

Due to an effectively unregulated market and the fierceness of competition for passengers and lucrative routes, taxi operators band together to form local and national associations. These associations sometimes exhibited mafia-like tactics and also engaged in anti-competitive price fixing.

In 2000, Government introduced a four-year taxi re-capitalisation programme in its drive to formalise the industry. The programme is aimed at the individual operator offering affordable, purpose-built, safe and convenient public transport. Current minibuses will be replaced with 18- and 35-seat minibuses.

Fares
In the case of minibuses, different individual taxi associations appear to decide collusively on taxi fares to be charged per route, outside consultation with, or interference by, the authorities.

Minibus commuters are charged fixed amounts for travelling on particular routes. These routes are generally known, without being published. It is common practice to set fares according to the perception of the customer's willingness to pay.

Sedan taxis are available for hire around cities, but with prices 10 times higher than minibus taxis they are generally reserved for the wealthy.