KZN SANTACO successfully hosted its annual sports day at the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Edgewood Campus in Pinetown recently hosted by the Santaco Durban West Regional Taxi Council, the three-day event attracted strong attendance, with all 17 Santaco regions competing in soccer, netball, Umlabalala, tug of war,athletics and aerobics.
Welcoming guests and participants, Sthombe Sithebe, Durban West Region women’s chairperson, thanked provincial taxi industry chairperson Boy Zondi and Durban West Regional chairperson ZK Mkhize for bringing the games to her region and uniting taxi operators across the province.
KZN Santaco office manager Sifiso Shangase said this year’s provincial taxi games improved on last year’s event.
“This year, we changed the format by extending the games from two days to three,” he said.
The games ran from Friday to Sunday, with more than 17 regions competing across all sporting codes.
Shangase said the longer programme gave players more time to rest, prepare and perform, easing the pressure of the previous two-day format.
This year, Santaco partnered with the KZN Government Provincial Regulatory Entity, which issues operating licences, to vet and verify eligible taxi operators.
According to Shangase, the process ensured that participants submitted by regional taxi associations were properly qualified, following past concerns about players misrepresenting their credentials.
“There had been widespread cheating, with player cards issued to people who did not qualify, including non-taxi operators.
“In some cases, regions brought in young players to represent them, and some even went on to win,” he said.
He said verification begins before the games, when regions submit participant names for each sporting code, including netball, soccer, traditional games, athletics, tug of war and aerobics. The programme is designed to include a broad range of participants.
Aerobics was open to everyone and formed part of SANTACO’s efforts to promote healthy living, fitness and social cohesion.
Shangase described the partnership with University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) as a first for the organisation, saying Edgewood Campus offered an ideal venue with suitable sport sporting facilities.
He said the successful event helped challenge negative perceptions of the taxi industry, with the university impressed by the professionalism and conduct of the operators.
He added that taxi industry security teams helped ensure compliance with public firearm regulations. Several business partners also took part and enjoyed the programme alongside the operators.
Looking ahead, Shangase said Santaco hopes to expand the sports programme into interprovincial games that promote social cohesion and healthy living among taxi operators nationwide.
Shakes Mayekani, SANTACO national deputy secretary, said the national office had tasked him with observing the KZN games and studying how they could be replicated in other provinces as the organisation seeks to “promote unity through sport”.
Other provinces, including the Free State, sent representatives to support their KZN counterparts.
Joe Matlatsi, SANTACO Free State secretary, said his region would benefit from KZN leadership’s organisational expertise in hosting successful games.
High-profile dignitaries at the games included Prince Nhlakanipho Zulu, a member of the Zulu royal family, SANTACO provincial chairperson Boy Zondi, SANTACO national deputy secretary Shakes Mayekani, ZK Mkhize Durban West Regional chairperson, government and business representatives.
