Spending habits of SA's taxi commuters unpacked
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GUEST – Marilu Smith – Research consultant at Red Fox Insight
Food is the biggest monthly expense for the majority of South Africa's taxi commuters, but despite high levels of unemployment, many are still able to make ends meet, either through a side hustle, a Sassa grant or through family support. This is among the insights from the latest Kasi411 taxi commuter data (March 2023), generated through a partnership between market research agency, Red Fox Insight, and Sebenza, a new digital platform that offers free Wi-Fi on over 2,000 South African taxis and busses nationwide. As the cost-of-living increases – with food inflation hitting a 14-year high in March of 14.4% – the impact of basic goods and necessary items is putting pressure on consumers’ pockets. So, it comes as no surprise that the Kasi411 data showed that food is the biggest monthly expense for almost half of 698 taxi commuters who were surveyed. Despite this, 42% said they still enjoy smaller luxuries, like purchasing games for their phones.
Food is the biggest monthly expense for the majority of South Africa's taxi commuters, but despite high levels of unemployment, many are still able to make ends meet, either through a side hustle, a Sassa grant or through family support. This is among the insights from the latest Kasi411 taxi commuter data (March 2023), generated through a partnership between market research agency, Red Fox Insight, and Sebenza, a new digital platform that offers free Wi-Fi on over 2,000 South African taxis and busses nationwide. As the cost-of-living increases – with food inflation hitting a 14-year high in March of 14.4% – the impact of basic goods and necessary items is putting pressure on consumers’ pockets. So, it comes as no surprise that the Kasi411 data showed that food is the biggest monthly expense for almost half of 698 taxi commuters who were surveyed. Despite this, 42% said they still enjoy smaller luxuries, like purchasing games for their phones.
