WiTaxi Pay: Powering informal transit in South Africa
Our MaaS platform transforms mobility by powering trip planning, payment processing, and transit operations in a modular, integrated solution.
WiTaxi: Innovating South Africa’s Informal Transit Industry
WiTaxi is a pioneering technology partner transforming South Africa’s informal transit sector, particularly the minibus taxi industry, which serves millions daily. With partial ownership by SANTACO (South African National Taxi Council) and partnerships with Toyota and Vodacom, WiTaxi delivers “free in-transit WiFi” to empower commuters, drivers, and operators with digital connectivity.
Powered by Bhadala and in partnership, WiTaxi has launched WiTaxi Pay Pty Ltd, a mobile wallet and fintech solution aiming to reduce cash payments in the informal public transit industry by introducing seamless digital payment options.WiTaxi Pay facilitates fast, secure transactions for commuters, drivers, operators, and other stakeholders, aligning with broader goals of digital and financial inclusion, equitable access to transit and financial empowerment.
In its initial phase, WiTaxi Pay will enable digital transactions for over 15 million daily commuters as well as support micro-transactions across the industry. As it expands, WiTaxi Pay will integrate Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) solutions to optimize transit operations, improving efficiency and accessibility within South Africa’s informal transit industry. Together, Bhadala and WiTaxi are shaping a future where informal transit is digitally connected, safer, and more efficient for all stakeholders.
Public transit across Africa is severely underdeveloped. In South Africa, the legacy of apartheid has left a lasting impact on the design and delivery of public transportation. Historically, the informal taxi minibus taxi industry emerged as a vital solution, serving over 15 million daily commuters across the country's nine provinces.
However, this industry faces critical challenges that hinder its transformation. The sector is still heavily reliant on manual transit operations and cash-based fare collection, leading to inefficiencies and security concerns for both commuters and drivers. With 1,000 taxi associations representing the sector, there remains a lack of regulation and modernization, contributing to poor service delivery, traffic congestion, and significant operational inefficiencies.
The informal transit industry is one of the largest contributors to South Africa's informal economy, valued at approximately $39.5 billion USD, alongside sectors like street vending and spaza shops. Despite its scale, the industry's challenges remain largely unaddressed, leaving millions of South Africans without the digital and mobility solutions that could streamline operations and improve their daily commuting experience.
Our solution is a MaaS platform designed to modernize and secure South Africa’s informal transit sector, making it safer and more efficient for all stakeholders. By offering secure, cashless transactions, our platform offers mobile wallet and P2P transactions, which reduces reliance on physical cash payments between commuter, driver and owner. WiTaxi Pay enhances transparency and security across operations.
For drivers, the platform streamlines the work experience, allowing them to focus on transporting commuters while we handle the complexities of fare collection and management. Additionally, we’ve introduced **new income streams** for drivers through the sale of **value-added services** such as airtime, data, and utility bill payments, empowering drivers to generate supplementary revenue.
