One of the taxis with Wi-Fi. Picture:X/sebenza_wifi “Home is where there’s Wi-Fi” for those who work remotely from their home, a restaurant, or on vacation. In South Africa, “home” can now also include a taxi, following the rollout of Wi-Fi in taxis by Sebenza and the South African National Taxi Council (Santaco).
Wi-Fi used to be a luxury many did not have, but now it has become like our daily bread, available almost everywhere. Sebenza and Santaco launched the partnership on Thursday. Sebenza is a South African tech company that provides free Wi-Fi and a digital content platform.
Santaco, established in 2001 represents at least 90% of the country’s mini bus industry. Sebenza CEO Wesley Dorning has assured that installing wireless internet in taxis will not push up fare prices. “Wi-Fi fitted taxis will not be more expensive than others,” he said.
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“Our model is always free to the industry, we aim to provide value to all stakeholders and create efficiency and opportunity to diversify revenue within the digital Ecosystem for the drivers in the future.” The idea of having Wi-Fi in taxis is not a new one, but he highlighted that the key themes at the G20 emphasised the need for more taxis to have wireless internet. “Digital inclusion and access to seamless, in-transit connectivity are critical in the Information Age and were a key theme in the 2025 G20 Summit. It ensures that no South African is left behind as Digital Technologies continue to shape the South African and global economy.
“70% of South Africans rely on taxis as their primary means of transport. This idea is enabling connectivity and digital inclusivity for the underserved communities.” Dorning said they have a target of 50 000 taxis within the next 24 months. He noted that they want to expand rapidly, but responsibly.
However, they already have 85 00 taxis with Wi-Fi in the country. “With a national footprint spanning 8500 taxis and buses, we are now accelerating our rollout through a strategic partnership with Santaco, positioning Sebenza to deploy 50 000 taxis in the next 24 months,” he said. “Our focus is continued growth and unlocking greater economic value for Sebenza’s commuters and brand partners alike.”
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