Let there be peace in taxi industry, King Sigcawu tells Uncedo indaba

Put aside your differences and forget about what led to your fights

Amaxhosa King Ahlangene Vulikhaya Sigcawu asked Uncedo Service Taxi Association members to professionalise the taxi industry, diversify incomes — and stop killing each other.

Sigcawu was speaking at the Orient Theatre in East London on Monday before hundreds of Uncedo members from all over the province.

Sigcawu is leading an initiative to mediate in Uncedo’s prolonged divisions, which have led to widespread bloodshed.

The meeting was attended by both former and current Uncedo leaders including Fuzile Mtshengele, Ntsikelelo Gaehler, Gabs Mtshala and Sandile Sifolo.

The meeting took place after a couple of meetings between the king and Uncedo’s provincial leadership.

It was the first time in many years that the general membership of Uncedo had gathered peacefully.

Over 30 people have been killed in taxi-related incidents in the province this year, with Uncedo blamed for most of the deaths.

Uncedo leaders commended Sigcawu for his initiative, saying they had been unable to make peace on their own.

The king returned the compliment.

“I commend the leadership of Uncedo for allowing me to mediate in their differences.

“When I started this initiative I called the leadership of Contralesa in the province and that of the SA Council of Churches to work with me.

“What I have liked ever since the start of this initiative is the honesty shown by the leaders,” said Sigcawu, SA’S former ambassador to Ireland.

The taxi industry needed to adapt to changes, and be more than a mere transporter of commuters.

“You need to think of ways of opening your own insurance companies to cover taxis.

“Financing and repairing of taxis should also be by your own companies within the industry.

“You really need to graduate from just transporting people.”

The Xhosa monarch appealed for the guns to be silenced during the peace negotiations.

“I am pleased to report to Uncedo’s general membership that their leaders have agreed to peace.

“So, let there be peace. Put aside your differences and forget about what led to your fights.

“It is our collective responsibility to ensure there is peace.”

He called on leaders to avoid war when they had differences.

“In the future, when you have differences, quickly find ways to resolve them through negotiations.”

Contralesa provincial chair Chief Mwelo Nonkonyana said Uncedo’s differences affected not only taxi operators but innocent commuters as well.

“Some homes now have orphans and widows because of these killings.

“That is why we jumped at the opportunity when the king called us to help him broker peace in Uncedo.”

Mtshengele, the current Uncedo president, appealed to members to preach peace and allow Sigcawu’s initiative to achieve its aim.

“I am glad we are in the process of achieving a peace pact,” Mtshengele said.

“I am appealing to all the leaders of Uncedo to respect this initiative of the king by engaging in peace.

“We have made peace as Uncedo leaders.”

Gaehler, former Uncedo president, said: “We commend the king for leading this initiative. All those who thought we may never mend our divisions must swallow their pride.

“All those who might have contributed to the differences must smoke a peace pipe.

“Let us go all out and preach peace to our own areas for our own safety.”

It is expected that peace negotiations will continue to unfold until Uncedo leaders sign an agreement.