EC taxi bosses on roadshow to broker peace in the industry
Leaders of the Eastern Cape's two most prominent taxi associations say they are holding a series of meetings to broker peace in the industry.
Uncedo Taxi Association president Ntsikelelo Geahler and Songezo Mpanda, president of the Border-Alliance Taxi Association, condemned the ongoing violence, saying it was destroying all the gains made by operators over the years.
In the coming weeks, they will criss-cross the province and meet regional and subregional executives of both organisations in an attempt to broker peace.
They fear a return to the taxi violence levels of 2017, when 60 people were killed, or the even more fiery 1990s.
“Nobody has benefited from these absurd activities. Yet loved ones died and businesses were tarnished. In the eyes of the public we are seen as monsters and killers. It will take a lot of time and hard work to restore our glory and integrity,” said Geahler.
The first joint meeting will be held in Peddie on Friday.
''We will travel to Port Elizabeth, Buffalo City, Mthatha and other areas. All we want is peace. Members of the two associations should not see each other as enemies, but as colleagues. How many people should die before everyone can understand that we are one? We cannot be killing each other; people should not be trigger happy and disregard human life. These murders are killing the industry,'' said Mpanda.
On Sunday, Uncedo and Bata provincial and national leaders held a joint meeting and all agreed taxi violence should be dealt with decisively.
Bata's Corhana sub-rank chairperson Buntu Ngada, 49, better known as “Ngwenya”, was recently shot in the driveway of his home in Zwelitsha locality near Mthatha.
Bata Mthatha branch chair Tandekile Skomela, 39 was shot dead near his KwaLindile home in Mthatha in November.
Gunmen also attacked the taxi fleet and home of Skomela's ally and Bata branch secretary Lucky Samora Dlakuva, spraying 40 bullets and torching his new Toyota Hilux. There were no injuries.
On Sunday, South African Taxi Council deputy chairperson and Uncedo Zola Bishop Yolelo narrowly escaped death when he was shot multiple times near the 14th South African Infantry battalion outside Mthatha.
Two Uncedo members were shot dead in Elliotdale late last year.
Police and leaders of both taxi associations do not doubt the motive of the killings and attacks.
Geahler called on provincial and national government to assist them in bringing about peace.
''The government must ensure that all the peace-brokering agreements are enforced. In order to assist us, they must be firm,'' said Geahler.