The Mpumalanga SANTACO Provincial Taxi Council (PMTC) has resolved to self-finance its operations, aiming for financial independence from provincial government grants.
The resolution follows a successful elective conference held at Lilian Ngoyi Hall, Secunda on the 12 March.
“The grant cannot go on forever, dependency at some stage has to stop,” warned the MPTC auditor.
Fanyana Sibanyoni, PMTC chairperson praised the provincial government for supporting the taxi industry.
“If we blame the ANC government, we must also not forget the good that they have done for us,” he said.
Simphiwe Sibanyoni, MPTC secretary, said conference resolved that each association member will contribute R50 to finance the Provincial Response Unit (PRU) that aims to restore stability within all taxi operations in the province.
“Conference resolved that each association member contribute R50 on a monthly basis towards the operations and logistics to cover payments for salaries, fuel and accommodation including costs associated with the running of the taxi response unit as a concrete step towards achieving financial independence and protecting the taxi industry business interests,” said the reelected secretary.
He explained that the PRU was created to tackle issues related to unauthorized taxi operations.
“The taxi industry in general is experiencing a challenge of illegal, illegitimate, and unregulated operators – whose operations affect the profit margin of the legal taxi association’s operators,” he said.
He said the six squad vehicles for the PRU were bought with funds following the 2025 AGM Conference resolution, where associations pledged R25,000 each last year.
Fanyana Sibanyoni was reelected as PMTC chairperson, with most previous office bearers returning and Macabane Nkalanga joining as Public Relations Officer.
