SANTACO has raised concerns about multi-millions of rands spent by the taxi industry leadership on hiring bodyguards and yet they never ever become wealthy, and no-where near some of the country’s well known richest individuals.
“Billionaires like Patrice Motsepe and Johan Rupert do not move around with an army of heavily armed security like you’ll find in the taxi industry,” SANTACO Vice President Fanyana Sibanyoni said.
“Taxi people do not have money and yet spend not less than half a million rands per month on hiring bodyguards instead of taking the money and investing it for our future,” Sibanyoni lamented, adding: “I am counting myself as I have bodyguards as well.”
He said taxi leaders must be ready to embrace change as the next generation of taxi operators is going to operate differently and completely shun violence.
“Our children when they inherit this business, they are going to run it differently without any guns nor get involved in fighting each other. Their mindset will be far different from ours. They are technology orientated and peaceful,” he said.
He urged taxi operators to do some self-introspection on how they best want their businesses run.
“We need to ask these questions: are we settled as taxi operators, are we running a proper business, when are we laying down the arms, and why can’t we professionalise our business?” he pondered.
He added: “We are the only people who run a business that is truly majority black owned. We need a gathering that is dedicated to the discussions on how to bring positive change to the taxi industry.”
