Warring Uncedo factions persuaded to silence their guns

Rival taxi bosses agree to peace deal, but members still need to approve it

Warring Eastern Cape taxi bosses have agreed to a peace accord, but it is up to the Uncedo Taxi Service Association’s membership to accept the deal.

Taxi bosses led by Xhosa King Ahlangene Vulikhaya Sigcawu met at Cambridge Hall in East London on Wednesday to finalise outstanding issues after a meeting held at Regent Hotel last week.

The meeting was also attended by provincial Contralesa organiser Chief Mfundo Bhovulengwe Mtirara and, from the SA Council of Churches (SACC), Bishop Vumile Mandila and Rev Prince Xundu.

Sigcawu led the meeting and managed to convince the two Uncedo groupings to “silence their guns”.

More than 30 people have been killed in the province in a year of the Uncedo feud.

Contralesa provincial chair Chief Mwelo Nonkonyana, speaking to the Dispatch after the meeting on behalf of Sigcawu, said the Wednesday meeting was frank.

A mass meeting with Uncedo’s general membership is set to take place in East London on November 27.

Nonkonyana said Sigcawu, working with an advisory team, approached Contralesa and SACC to work with him in his initiative for peace among rival taxi bosses.

“The king felt he needed to do something to stop the bloodshed because the victims are not only taxi operators but also innocent commuters,” Nonkonyana said.

“We wanted to mend broken relations among Uncedo members because we noticed they were deeply divided and unable to meet to resolve their issues.

“But the king was able to convince them to meet.

“They respected him and met.

“The king told them he was uncomfortable with the prolonged violence and that it was his responsibility to see that they smoke a peace pipe. All we are saying is that the violence needs to stop.”

Nonkonyana said the two groupings were committed to peace.

“The general meeting on November 27 will give us a concrete way forward on our peace process,” he said.

Uncedo Eastern Cape chair Sandile Sifolo said it was a great meeting.

“We were talking peace and we have all agreed that we need to go to our members and brief them about the process,” Sifolo said.

Prominent taxi boss Gabs Mtshala, who also attended the meeting, also agreed the meeting was frank and that they were committed to peace.

“The meeting did not deviate from the commitments we made last week. Indeed, we are committed to resolving our issues.

“We are hopeful November 27 will bring about peace.

“We will forever be grateful to the king,” Mtshala said.

Mtshala wrote to Mabuyane last week asking him to put a moratorium on a R3.5m grant paid to the taxi industry through the provincial leadership of Santaco.

He said the grant was the root cause of the divisions in the industry.

Mtshala also called on Mabuyane to disband his sixmember task team, led by Bishop Ziphozihle Siwa, saying it had failed to resolve the issues facing the warring Uncedo groupings.

Mabuyane confirmed receiving Mtshala’s letter and said his officials were looking into it.

Meanwhile Sifolo, apparently after a briefing with his grouping, made an aboutturn on his earlier comments about Mabuyane’s task team.

Sifolo told the Dispatch this week that Mabuyane’s task team had not been helpful and that they were not interested in it.

But on Tuesday, he said: “It was a mistake.

“I cannot say we do not want the premier’s task team, but we are committed on the king’s initiative now.

“Let the premier’s task team do its job.”

The meeting did not deviate from the commitments we made last week. Indeed, we are committed to resolving our issues