TAXI SIGNS

THE taxi industry has evolved an elaborate sign language used to indicate the desired destination. Wherever you are in the country, you will find locals using their fingers to stop the taxi going in their direction. The sign you use depends on where you happen to be - so it is useful to ask locals for the appropriate signs to use. Pointing your index finger upwards generally means you are looking for a taxi traveling to the Johannesburg city centre. To stop a taxi traveling around a township (called local), you draw a circle in the air with your finger pointing downwards. RELATED STORIES: Taxi tips Improved facilities for taxi commuters Winds of change in the taxi industry

Taxi Ranks By Thomas Thale HERE is a list of taxi ranks in the Johannesburg city centre. Each rank services commuters traveling to particular destinations. Park Central or Jack Mincer taxi rank (Noord Street) Destinations: Alexandra Township Baragwanath Hospital Booysens Diepkloof Fourways Halfway House (Midrand) Kyalami Modderfontein Norwood Orlando Pretoria Randburg Sandton Southgate Vosloorus The Bridge Taxi Rank (Corner Noord and King George street) Destinations: Dobsonville Meadowlands Zone 1 Meadowlands Zone 9 Park City Taxi Rank (Opposite Park Station) Destinations: East Rand Benoni Brakpan Imbalenhle Springs West Rand Beggersdaal Kagiso Krugersdorp Roodepoort Westgate Free State Province Harrismith Qua Qua Wadden Eastern Cape the former Ciskei King William's Town the former Transkei Kwa Zulu Natal Dundee Durban Empangeni Eshowe Hluhluwe Manguza Mkhuze Mnambithi Mtubatuba New Castle Nongoma Nquthu Phongolo Pietermaritzburg Port Shepstone Standerton Volkrust Vrede Vryheid Ulundi North West Klerksdorp Mafikeng Potchefstroom Rustenburg North Bushbuckridge Don Donald Ermelo Giyani Pietersburg Tzaneen Venda Mpumalanga Nelspruit Witbank Neighbouring States Botswana Swaziland Zimbabwe Metro Mall Taxi Rank (Corner Bree and West) Destinations: Baragwanath Hospital Diepkloof Dobsonville Eldorado Park Escort Faraday Klerksdorp Meadowlands Orange Farm Orlando Senaoane Boskop Craighall Park Fairlands Fourways Greymont Honeydew Hyperama Jules Street Natalspruit Randburg Strydom Park Yeoville Kort Street Taxi Rank Destinations: Chiawelo Mapetla Naledi Pimville Protea Glen Protea North Senaoane Westgate Taxi Rank Destinations: Bedfordview Bez Valley Bruma Lake Eastgate Everton Palm Springs Sebokeng Vereeniging Carlton Centre Taxi Rank Destinations: Dobsonville Dube Island Orlando Sakies Garage Zola Corner West and Diagonal Street Destinations: Dube Nancefield Phefeni Rockville Corner Von Brandis and Commissioner Street Destinations: Dobsonville Dube Green Village Phefeni Sakies Garage Zola Corner Anderson and Von Brandis Destinations: Baragwanath Chiawelo Pimville Protea Senaoane Corner Noord and Claim Destinations: Natalspruit / Katlehong Noord (Between Twist and Claim street) Destinations: Bloemfontein Lesotho Welkom