Asambeni Taxi Times: Driving Change, One Family at a Time

In the hum and bustle of South Africa’s taxi ranks, a quiet revolution is taking place, and it’s printed in bold headlines. Asambeni Taxi Times (ATT), launched in March 2025, began with a modest print run of 30,000 copies per month. Just two months later, it had scaled to an impressive 150,000 copies per edition, distributed bi-monthly across Gauteng.

This phenomenal growth has not only cemented ATT as one of South Africa’s biggest independent newspapers, but it has also changed the lives of 118 families, each one playing a part in bringing this community-powered paper to life.

Powered by the people

ATT’s expansion isn’t driven by algorithms or celebrity news cycles, it’s powered by everyday South Africans. From school leavers to street vendors, the people behind ATT’s distribution network have found a lifeline through this platform.

These 118 families now have a steady source of income, and many have become trusted news-bearers in their neighbourhoods. What started as a local publication has turned into a movement of dignity and empowerment, bringing both economic opportunity and meaningful content to the communities that need it most.

Partnership with purpose: SBCC’s impact

A key driver of ATT’s grassroots reach is its partnership with Sithuthukisa Bonke Crisis Centre (SBCC). Based in Lotus Gardens, this non-profit has been working since 2008 to tackle issues like substance abuse, school dropouts, and teenage pregnancy.

SBCC supports ATT’s distribution while continuing its core mission: providing rehabilitation, skills development, and youth outreach. Through this partnership, ATT doesn’t just reach readers, it activates change agents at community level.

“This partnership goes beyond paper,” says Abel Pega, founder of SBCC. “Together, we’re putting tools, stories, and hope into people’s hands, especially our youth.”

Real stories, real people

ATT’s pages are filled with stories that reflect the lived experiences of taxi commuters; parents, gogos, learners, hustlers, and hopefuls. From township gardening heroes to practical wellness tips and budget-friendly school holiday activities, ATT is community journalism at its best.

Every edition is crafted to uplift, inform, and spark conversation. And for readers, it’s not just something to pass the time on a ride, it’s a mirror of their world and a map to something better.

Female-owned. Youth-driven. Proudly local.

ATT is a 100% black female-owned publication, committed to creating opportunities for women and youth. As it grows, so too does its impact, especially among young people who are trained and empowered to manage distribution, marketing, and logistics.

The result? A publication that is as much about economic inclusion as it is about editorial content.

The road ahead

Asambeni Taxi Times is more than a newspaper. It’s a symbol of what’s possible when communities write their own stories, distribute their own media, and invest in their own people.

In just a few weeks, it has gone from 30,000 to 150,000 copies, from one idea to a national force, and from a taxi rank conversation starter to a movement that moves minds and households.

Get in touch

Want to support or be featured in Asambeni Taxi Times? Visit www.asambenitaxitimes.co.za or email stories@asambenitimes.co.za.

Together with partners like SBCC and the families who make every edition possible, we’re not just going, we’re going further, together.