Yaseen Abrahams & Ashraf Cassiem were tired of seeing the elderly struggle to pay taxi fares with their small pensions so the duo decided to make a difference!
In March of this year, we shared the incredible story of Yaseen Abrahams and Ashraf Cassiem who were offering free rides to pensioners. They were tired of losing money to gang members who intimidated them for free transport and started helping the elderly instead.
Since that story broke, the pair has been working even harder to make an impact and have encouraged other taxis to start offering the same services.
The duo’s taxi boss, David Roman, has supported their efforts and is encouraging them to continue the service. He has even set up a programme called “Taxi Give Back” which was launched on the 2nd of May. They called on 30 legal taxi drivers and their taxi guards to sign up. An event was hosted which encouraged the legal drivers and permit holder to attend and sign up for the project.
Abrahams even visited an old age home to explain the concept to the pensioners living there. In the title image above, Grandmother Mary Kannemeyer, 70, can be seen explaining her circumstances to Abrahams. She has been in a wheelchair for more than 10 years.
“We sukkel (struggle) a lot and don’t always have money for taxi fare because we only get a Sassa pension. My husband, Gert, 81, pushes me and we walk to the shops and the hospital because we cannot afford (a taxi). But this is a nice plan and I think a lot of people will be grateful,”
The ‘Taxi Give Back’ team are hoping that taxi bosses from communities like Manenberg, Elsies River and Bishop Lavis will take up the pledge as well.
“This is about giving something back and it is not nice to see people struggle, I am hoping that taxi bosses and drivers in other areas also come on board and we can make this a success. So far we have six drivers in Bonteheuwel who have signed up.” – Yaseen Abrahams
People wanting to offer their services can sign up to the programme by contacting David Roman on 072 127 8422.
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