The minibus taxi industry plays an important role in this country’s economy. But too many of its bosses speak and behave in a manner that makes Mamparas of the entire enterprise.
Take Fanyana Sibanyoni, the Mpumalanga chair of the South African National Taxi Council.
He was on Newzroom Afrika the other day talking to Xoli Mngambi. “Are people who own cars allowed to give hitchhikers lifts?” asked Mngambi. “No, they are not allowed — it is our business,” said Sibanyoni.
“They are infringing our right because we as taxi operators, we have permits to load passengers. People cannot just pick up people, because they are not taxis.”
With this kind of thinking, citizens will soon be forced to drive around with sworn affidavits stating that the passengers in their cars are their spouses, children or other family members — just to avoid the wrath of Sibanyoni and his ilk.
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