Call on govt to run the ‘deadly taxi industry’
Santaco missive follows killing of taxi boss
THE South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) has called on government to open up talks about nationalisation of the taxi industry should the current bloodbath go unresolved.
Santaco president Noluntu Mahashe said the ongoing killings of taxi bosses, mostly over taxi routes, was getting out of the taxi governing body’s control.
Mahashe herself is recovering from a gunshot wound. She was shot in her lower body near her kidneys and the bullet exited from her back in her Morningside home in East London on May 8.
Her call comes in the wake of Wednesday night’s brutal killing of popular Mdantsane taxi operator Mthetheleli “Mtheza” Mqala.
Mqala was shot several times in front of horrified passengers and hawkers at the Highway taxi rank at NU2, Mdantsane.
His killing comes two weeks after he was re-elected into the position of chairman for Uncedo Service Taxi Association in the Buffalo City Metro area.
“In Mthatha, the government authorities closed down the Circus Triangle taxi rank and we cannot operate due to ongoing violence,” Mahashe said.
“If we are not able to work together then we might as well allow the government to run the taxi industry and take it from us.”
Mahashe reacted with sadness and shock to the brutal killing of Mqala.
“That boy Mthetheleli was the kindest and most creative taxi operator . . . so full of passion and energy. I wasn’t surprised when he got re-elected.”
Mahashe said if it is proven the killing was taxi-related she would be very disgusted as the defeated side congratulated Mqala at the Uncedo executive elections.
She said a meeting would be held today between all the taxi associations in light of the killings.
Santaco has called on the provincial police to build a police station at the notorious Highway Shopping Mall. “Even if it is just a mobile station.” A second taxi boss, popularly known as “Mandoza”, is fighting for his life in hospital after sustaining gun wounds.
He was rushed to hospital after sustaining gun wounds during the attack on Mqala. The two victims were attacked shortly after 5pm by suspects driving in a white VW polo.
Provincial police spokesman Captain Khaya Tonjeni said no one had been arrested but cases of murder and attempted murder were opened on Wednesday night.
Tonjeni said the Mdantsane police were still investigating the two cases.
“One of the victims is in a critical but stable condition in hospital.”
In January, taxi associations in East London signed a ceasefire which aimed to put an end to a year-long secret war which has seen hitmen kill dozens of operators.
However, the ceasefire deal was violated the following week when Melta taxi boss Welile Blayi was shot in Mdantsane by unknown assailants.
Blayi was lucky to survive a hail of bullets which left his 4x4 Isuzu bakkie riddled with holes. — malibongwed@dispatch.co.za