The former chairperson of the South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO) in the Eastern Cape, Bishop Zola Yolelo, confirmed that they welcomed the advice from MEC for the Department of Transport and Safety, Xolile Nqatha, to disband the executive structure of SANTACO and related organisations.
This recommendation, made by the Taxi Mediation Panel, aims to end the violence ravaging the industry.
Yolelo shared this at a meeting held at O.R. Tambo Hall in Mthatha last week. He explained that owing to ongoing taxi violence in the Eastern Cape, SANTACO members, led by him, approached Nqatha to request the establishment of a Mediation Task Team to investigate the persistent killings in the industry.
“The task team was established, and once it was appointed, it was introduced to SANTACO. After completing their investigation, the Task Team reported that SANTACO is the only legitimate structure in the Eastern Cape. They asked us what to address in this investigation, so we suggested they speak with the Ncedo Taxi Association (NTA), Border Alliance Taxi Association (BATA), and other related bodies to understand why there was conflict,” said Yolelo.
He noted that the Task Team had approached these organisations and found that SANTACO’s current leadership was accused of being elected improperly, which has contributed to the violence. “The Task Team recommended that this leadership be dissolved and re-elected. Nqatha issued a circular on 5 September 2024, stating that Ncedo, BATA, and SANTACO should dissolve their structures. Afterwards, SANTACO is to rebuild inclusive structures to bring everyone on board because excluding people fuels violence in the province.”
Yolelo mentioned that he had made a voice note supporting Nqatha’s suggestion, considering the lives at stake. He stated that he was questioned by SANTACO’s National Office about his support for Nqatha’s recommendation. After he had explained his reasons, the National Office also agreed that the Eastern Cape structures should be dissolved. A task team has now been appointed to manage activities in the province.
He confirmed that former management teams from the associations, region and province are no longer executives; instead, they are now task teams. “We are continuing our duties as before, but we have only six months to complete local, regional, and provincial conferences within this time frame.”
SANTACO Secretary General Daki Qumbu, at the national level, said that SANTACO does not generally agree with the external dissolution of their structures, including by any level of government. “We work with the government, but we are independent. However, we support the actions in the Eastern Cape, as they aim to address the long-standing violence in the province. We support rebuilding and ensuring that all stakeholders are included to bring peace and stability. We condemn the killings in this province and call for everyone to cease hostilities and come to the table to negotiate,” said Qumbu.
In a statement issued by the Department of Transport and Community Safety, Nqatha said he had convened an urgent meeting with leaders of taxi associations in East London to discuss the recommendations of the Taxi Mediation Panel and invite their input on implementing the panel’s advice. The panel, appointed by Premier Oscar Mabuyane, aims to address the violence in the taxi industry as of 5 September 2024.
After considering feedback from the taxi industry, Nqatha advised them to:
- Dissolve the SANTACO Executive Structure within seven days of receiving this notice.
- Develop a plan to establish an inclusive interim structure that will work towards an elective conference per the SANTACO Constitution.
- Implement a process to move towards an election conference.
- Consider dissolving mother bodies such as Uncedo, BATA, and other related bodies, as they do not align with procedures governing operating licence registration in the department.
“The above advice is in the interest of peace and stability in the industry. If this advice is not followed, the department will consider legal options, including withdrawing recognition of the executive structure and revoking the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with SANTACO,” said Nqatha.
Nqatha expressed satisfaction with the industry’s response, noting that he views this as part of the peace accord signed by industry leaders and the department to end violence in the sector.
