Caiphus Snothi Xaba, the chairperson of the Faraday Taxi Association (FTA) was shot and killed a week after attending the elective conference of the Gauteng National Taxi Alliance (GNTA) as a voting delegate.
According to FTA, Xaba met his sudden death on the evening of Monday, 9th September soon after returning from a business emergency meeting as he got to his home. He was buried at his birthplace of Kwa Nongoma, KwaZulu- Natal, on Saturday, 21 September.
Xaba was elected chairperson of FTA in August 2019, replacing then chairperson BZ Mbatha. He was in his second term in office at the time of his death. The association has reacted with shock to Xaba’s death, with the spokesperson saying that all members were still grappling and struggling to accept his death.
“We are extremely saddened by the death of our chairman and, as we speak, we are in discussions with the association’s advisors on the steps to take going forward,” said FTA public relations officer Sihle Makhanya.
“We are very confused about the situation. To say we do not know what to do now could be an understatement,” Makhanya continued.
The task of finding a replacement for Xaba seems to be a difficult one for the taxi body, says Makhanya, adding that the veterans league of the association – a body of former members and retired chairmen as well as those still in good standing – will work with the association to ensure that the process runs smoothly.
Makhanya has confirmed to the TaxiWorld publication that they have two options: one being to have an interim committee to run the affairs of the association or have the present committee dissolved. The other available option will be to have the present deputy chairperson, JS Ndlela, seconded by FTA to take over as new chairperson.
