A taxi ride is never just about getting from point A to point B. It’s a theatre of voices, a melting pot of stories, and sometimes, a comedy show on wheels. That is what Dr Jacob Cloete, a political scientist from the University of the Western Cape (UWC) turned storyteller, has captured in his latest book, Stories in a Bellville Taxi.
“There is nothing more authentic than taking public transport to and from work every day.”
A taxi ride is never just about getting from point A to point B
Dr Cloete, from Namaqualand, works at the University and has long been immersed in the serious world of governance and democracy. His earlier academic work dissected political systems with precision, offering insights into policy and power.
“It portrays the lived daily realities and the banter and frustrations of ordinary people squeezed together in a taxi.”
But with Stories in a Bellville Taxi, he trades his day-to-day work for the backseat of a minibus, swapping scholarly analysis for the raw, unfiltered voices of everyday South Africans.
Taxi Tales with a Twist: Dr Jacob Cloete’s New Book
“This book was inspired by and written for my son. He started high school in 2025 and decided to take up drama, and for this, he needed stories, stories that he, his family, his community and I can relate to. It was for this reason that I began writing Stories in a Bellville Taxi,” Dr Cloete explained.
“The original Afrikaans manuscript was written in pen by hand.”
The stories of commuters in South Africa
The book, published by Shofar Books in June 2026, is available in English and Afrikaans. It draws inspiration from Dr Cloete’s daily commute between Tyger Falls and Bellville South, where the taxi becomes a microcosm of the nation.
Taxi conversations
Conversations overheard on these rides touch on unemployment, xenophobia, gangsterism and service delivery failures. Yet, his narrative is anything but bleak. He infuses humour into the chaos, reminding readers that laughter often thrives, even in the most challenging circumstances.
“I wanted to share this experience with readers and fellow commuters.”
For this book, Dr Cloete wanted to give readers something authentic: “The original Afrikaans manuscript was written in pen by hand. I wanted to bring back authenticity to storytelling, something I am missing in the age of AI. There is nothing more authentic than taking public transport to and from work every day. I wanted to share this experience with readers and fellow commuters.”
What makes the book particularly engaging is its balance of gravity and levity. One moment, passengers debate the failures of local government. Next, they joke about the quirks of taxi culture. Dr Cloete’s skill lies in capturing these juxtapositions, showing how resilience and wit are woven into the everyday fabric of South African life.
“It portrays the lived daily realities and the banter and frustrations of ordinary people squeezed together in a taxi.”
The contrast with his earlier work is striking. Where his previous publications were steeped in academic rigour, Stories in a Bellville Taxi is accessible, conversational and deeply human. It portrays the lived daily realities and the banter and frustrations of ordinary people squeezed together in a taxi. The official launch of Stories in a Bellville Taxi will take place at Exclusive Books at Tygervalley Shopping Centre. The day is Thursday, 16 July 2026, at 18:00.
