In 2026, the safest and most reliable way to catch a taxi in South Africa is through e-hailing apps like Uber or Bolt. These are widely used in major cities like Cape Town, Johannesburg, and Durban, and they provide the security of a tracked vehicle and a pre-determined fare. It is strongly advised not to hail a traditional "metered taxi" off the street, especially at night; instead, ask your hotel or a restaurant to call a reputable taxi company they trust. For the ubiquitous "minibus taxis"—the white vans seen everywhere—they operate on specific set routes and use hand signals for destinations, but these are generally geared toward local commuters and can be daunting for tourists to navigate safely without a local guide. If you are at a major airport like OR Tambo or Cape Town International, only use the authorized taxi kiosks inside the arrivals hall. Always verify the driver's identity and the vehicle's license plate against the app before entering, and keep your doors locked and windows up during the ride to prevent "smash-and-grab" incidents in urban traffic.