OBITUARY
Peacemaker leader in taxi industry dies
LULAMILE Mnqayi, one of the Eastern Cape’s taxi sector’s key peace negotiators, has died.
Mnqayi, who was with the Bhisho King William’s Town Taxi Association (Bikita), died last week after a sudden illness. His colleagues in the industry said he had shown no signs of illness.
His brother, Thozamile Mnqayi, said the family was awaiting the results of the postmortem.
He leaves behind his wife and four children. He is also survived by his father and six siblings.
The association’s chairman Sibongile Nkonyeni said Mnqayi had collapsed at home on Thursday and was rushed to a doctor, where he died.
Nkonyeni said Mnqayi worked tirelessly to help others and the industry had learnt a lot from him. “We were blessed to have him with us. We’ve worked with him and he is known for his negotiating skills in stopping brewing taxi wars in the industry.
“A number of other associations have learnt and copied that and recently taxi leader Noluntu Mahashe commended him for his skills,” Nkonyeni said.
Mnqayi was key in stopping a looming fight over routes between rival associations in 1990 in King William’s Town at a time when the war was claiming lives in Mdantsane.
Mnqayi had a short stint in the mines in the 80s before he joined the taxi industry in 1985. Since then he held various leadership positions with the taxi union, including sitting on the King William’s Town taxi management structure.
“Many of us remember him as a peacemaker. We honestly don’t remember a day in the past 30 years where he took sides when resolving issues. We’ve lost a leader,” he said.
Tutu Zicina, a taxi boss who has known Mnqayi since 1985, said Mnqayi had a great sense of humour.
“Everyday he was a person who would crack jokes. He always made us happy. We called him Laduma because of his love for Kaizer Chiefs and also Mswahla as he would call people those names,” Zicina said.
Zicina said Mnqayi always tried to ensure that the taxi industry was recognised as a peaceful industry. “He was hurting when he saw a war brewing between rival taxi associations. He fought for unity and we managed to achieve that in King William’s Town area thanks to him.
“He would always go out of his way to stop any negative reporting about the industry because he believed people should read and know the best things about the taxi ind Zicina said.
The association’s secretary Bongani Seti said Mnqayi had commanded wide respect while two former colleagues, Eric Sawuti and Lulama Fekade, said the industry had lost an important soul.
“But we will have to continue where he left so we can make him happy. On the same day he died, he was resolving another case. He worked from the day he arrived until the day he died,” Nkonyeni said.
Mnqayi will be buried next Sunday in Pakamisa.