Rough Ride takes a personal journey of discovery through the eyes of four pioneers of the taxi industry. Together, they reveal the seeds of conflict that would erupt in the minibus blockade protests of 1993, which brought Johannesburg to a standstill. The control of transport systems was integral to the strategies of South Africa’s apartheid regime. Consequently, in South Africa today, the main form of commuter transport is an unsubsidized, ageing, and war-torn minibus taxi fleet. It has grown over seven decades, from the illegal operations of sedans in the 30s to a national transport system that carries over 65% of commuters today. Rough Ride unravels the evolution of the culture of minibus taxis, amidst the madness of apartheid.