Vukta executive committee members feel threatened
Members sometimes get calls from unknown callers who are threatening to kidnap their children if they don't give certain amount of money to them.
The Vukanini Taxi Association (Vukta) chairperson, Fanyana Sibanyoni said the lives of the organisation’s executive committee are in danger.
Sibanyoni addressed the association’s members during Vukta’s AGM, held at the Lillian Ngoyi Centre on November 22.
“Operating taxis is not a battlefield where somebody’s strength is always tested with a bullet; it is a business,” said Sibanyoni.
He said 2023 was a tough year for the organisation and several arrests took place since the beginning of this year. They also lost opportunities and members.
“Our lives as the executive committee, particularly me, are under siege for unknown reasons. We often receive threats over the telephone.
“Members sometimes get calls from unknown callers threatening to kidnap their children if they do not pay a certain amount of money.”
Sibanyoni said the executive always encourages members to speak up if they have a problem, but unruly behaviour will not be tolerated.
He claimed taxi operators suffer under the Gert Sibande District Municipality and the Mpumalanga government by not receiving their operating permits on time.
According to Sibanyoni, the working relationship between traffic officials and the association members or operators is lacking.
“Mpumalanga traffic officials are problematic. We apply for the operating permits, but they leave the unapproved permits in their offices and come here to conduct roadblocks, looking for the same permits they left behind.
“If they don’t get that permit from the taxi driver, they book him or her for a fine and also swear at us. If we ask them why they left our permits in their offices and came to look for it on us, we are seen as people who are undermining the law,” said Sibanyoni.
He also spoke harshly about the local traditional leaders. He stated the Govan Mbeki Municipality has lost political direction and traditional leaders are supposed to take a stand.
He claimed Vukta and the community believed the leaders would stop the mess made by politicians, but now that hope is gone because of all the disunity among the traditional leaders.
“Our townships are now ungovernable because anyone who wants to conduct an initiation school to make money is doing it.
“When you ask the person who gave him the right to conduct an initiation school, we are told that a certain traditional leader gave that person a permit.
“We respect our culture. You cannot take someone’s child to an initiation school without the parents’ consent. Why is this happening in our area?” asked Sibanyoni.
Sibanyoni and Vukta members at the AGM agreed their Secunda office would be named after the late Fannie Khumalo, a taxi boss who was gunned down at his home in Kinross two years ago.
Khumalo was preparing his minibuses to transport commuters when four armed men shot him seven times in the chest and he died on the spot.
ALSO CHECK: Vukanini Taxi Association accuse Police of brutality
Among the suspects who were arrested was Elias Mhlanga, a taxi owner and they terminated his Vukanini Taxi Association membership with immediate effect.
The Evander Magistrate’s Court turned down the bail applications for Mhlanga and his co-accused, Vuyisile Buthelezi and Khulekani Masondo.
The case was then transferred to the Delmas High Court.
The trio appeared in high court in August and their case was postponed to August next year. They are still in custody.
ALSO CHECK: Vukanini Taxi Association demands taxi rank back from Govan Mbeki Municipality
