Hard-driving taxi men gun it on South Africa's roads

By Michael Georgy

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - Armed with pistols and hair-trigger tempers, South Africa's minibus taxi drivers are the undisputed kings of road rage, swerving through traffic and ignoring red lights as nervous motorists get out of the way.

In a country struggling to prove its crime-ridden streets are safe before hosting the 2010 soccer World Cup, drivers -- at the mercy of mafia bosses who exploit them for every last penny -- often get caught up in gangland-style turf battles.

Sitting in a minibus in Johannesburg's crime-ridden Hillbrow neighbourhood, a boss who controls about 200 local and long-haul vehicles talks openly about the violence.

But only after climbing into the vehicle, for fear of reprisals.

The supervisor, who would only give his last name, Mdluli, had just been negotiating with rivals.

"We have been fighting for two weeks and they won't listen," said the man, his 23 years in the business showing on his tired face. "They steal our customers."

His employees mostly use wooden bats to make their point, he said, but would resort to hitmen with guns if needed.

"This is a war. In wars, everyone uses mercenaries."