GMM will soon have only one taxi association

SECUNDA – The three local taxi associations in the Govan Mbeki municipal area plan to amalgamate into a bigger entity.

Fanyana Sibanyoni, the South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO) president who is also the Mpumalanga SANTACO chairperson and the Vukanini Taxi Association (Vukta) chairperson announced this at Vukta’s annual general meeting held at the Lillian Ngoyi Centre in Secunda on Thursday, November 24.

Sibanyoni said Vukta and the Bethal Taxi Association have concluded their processes with the office of the Registrar.

“Though our taxi routes won’t change, we will have one centre of power. Bethal, Vukta and Zamokuhle Taxi Association from Leandra will be amalgamating and will have its own name.

“This is something that many taxi associations are afraid to do. We are the only one in the country,” said Sibanyoni.

Sibanyoni also reminded the association members of the late Fannie Khumalo who was shot and killed in his home in Kinross last year.

“I am reminding you about the loss of one of our rank managers who succumbed to the bullets that were perpetually supposed to eliminate me.

“That intolerating attitude surprised me as if I have personally imposed myself as the chairperson of this progressive taxi association.

“It is indeed disappointing to have a local member behind bars for such barbaric and uncalled behaviour,” said Sibanyoni.

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Khumalo (51) was gunned down at his home in Thistle Grove, Kinross while preparing his minibuses to transport commuters last November.

Four armed men shot him seven times in the chest and he died on the spot. Elias Mhlanga, Vuyani Buthelezi and Khulekani Masondo were arrested for Khumalo’s murder.

All three accused were denied bail by the Evander Magistrate Court. Their case was referred to the Delmas High Court for trial.

Sibanyoni told Vukta members that the case was postponed for August next year by the high court. He also said the association has cleansed its house of all members who colluded to kill others.

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Sibanyoni further said he is concerned about the increasing number of repossessed minibuses caused by job losses in various sectors.

He said this lead the association to establish a cooperation system aimed at internally addressing individual instalments.

Sibanyoni encouraged the taxi operators to deposit their money in a bank account to build up credit profiles.

The attendees at the meeting agreed that the organisation will not allow new members to join because it is already congested. According to Sibanyoni, Vukta has more than 500 members.

On behalf of the association’s executive committee, Sibanyoni promised to continue their hard work and to ensure the association occupies the biggest provincial space, not by the size of its membership, but by its developmental characteristics.

Drivers and owners at the AGM were also awarded for good work.