IN ASSOCIATION WITH
TAXI TIMES
Man found dead after being kicked out of taxi
RISE N SHINE I WITH THE COMMUNITY
26 JULY 2019, 30 Tel: 01121 862 8500 I Fax: 086 241 5648 Volume 09, 23Week May 2017, Week Tel: 011 862 8500 I www.tametimes.co.za
The unfathomable death of a 27-year-old man has flung his family into profound mourning and distress because of the circumstances around his passing away. Motorists discovered Thomas Manenzhe sprawling inert on the grass by the side of the freeway between the Tobias and Haakdooring roads in the Naboomspruit. He had bruises on the body, his left knee was swollen, and his one leg was broken. His belt was found in another
spot, while his shoes were also off his feet, several metres away. Thomas was a resident at Magau village in the Sinthumule area. The provincial police’s spokesperson, Col Moatshe Ngoepe, said that the police were investigating a case of culpable homicide. “We request members of the public to assist in providing us with information that might lead to the identification and arrest of the suspect,” Ngoepe said. However, according to the information provided by the family and one female passenger who could not be named at this stage, Manenzhe boarded a minibus taxi en route from Gauteng to Venda from the Bosman Station taxi rank in Pretoria. The taxi broke down along the way, just around the Kranskop tollgate. “We waited for some time while the driver arranged for another taxi to come and load us, because he could neither fix the vehicle nor determine the cause of the problem,” said a fellow
passenger. “A similar taxi arrived, and we all got into it. We drove off for some time before an older man and two young men were involved in a fracas with Thomas.” The three men allegedly started beating Thomas right inside the moving taxi. He fell down in the passage and they allegedly continued kicking him. The taxi eventually stopped, and the four men were advised to get off to continue “fighting” outside the taxi. However, the driver insisted that Thomas should be left there at that place, because he was now talking too much. The family spokesperson, Naledzani Mulaudzi, said that the family was utterly distraught about the manner in which the taxi driver had treated their son. “Had the driver not left him along the way, our child would not have died,” she said. “It’s not clear at this stage whether he was injured by the three men or whether
Cops find disabled teen TAXI TIMES alone and chained to chair INTRODUCING
Published by tame TIMES
56 TAXI RANKS 8 000 000
COMMUTERS A MONTH
A 30-year-old mother accused of chaining her 12-year-old disabled daughter and locking her inside the house was granted R500 bail in the Bela Bela Magistrate’s Court. Limpopo police spokesman Colonel Moatshe Ngoepe however said the woman was still in custody because no one turned up to pay her bail. She was arrested after concerned
neighbours alerted police about a girl being ill-treated by her mother. Officers found the 12-year-old alone and chained to a chair in the house. She was rescued and taken to a place of safety. The mother was arrested and charged with child neglect and appeared in court on Thursday. Her case was postponed to August for further investigation.
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some criminals found him alone in the night and killed him. But as a family we put blame on the driver and the taxi association to which he is affiliated – taxi associations should school their drivers in how to treat passengers and deal with any misunderstanding which might occur among passengers. Any driver in their right mind couldn’t kick out a passenger in the wilderness!” Mulaudzi said that the family needed answers from the taxi association and that they believed that the police would leave no stone unturned in probing this matter. However, the actual taxi that ferried the passengers from the Bosman Station taxi rank is not known at this stage, but the police were provided with the registration number of the second taxi minibus that accepted passengers at Kranskop tollgate. Thomas Manenzhe was working at Delmas in Mpumalanga. He is survived by his mother, Mavis Manenzhe, and his wife, Dorah Mabasa.
26 JULY 2019
02
A NOTE FROM THE
EDITOR “BLACK TAX” BURDEN
There is a responsibility of pulling others up when you succeed. We are still very afraid as young people to speak up because we think it is selfish. While others don’t mind paying black tax, the burden comes when nobody else is willing to take over the responsibility Parents should stop comparing their children’s success with others, just because their neighbour’s son manages to send money home and extend the house, doesn’t mean your children can also afford to do so. Black parents should be more understanding. We have our own lives to live, we have dreams that we want to achieve and if we are constantly. Young people need to adopt a saving culture. We are the
generation that can take action in stopping this cycle by starting to save. We also need to learn to say ‘no’ and develop a habit of planning our finances to combat the cycle of poverty.
Ins and outs of starting a taxi business
The taxi industry in South Africa
very careful in making sure that there
has been given a bad reputation
aren’t too many drivers running the
over the last few years, but what
same route. They basically make sure
very few realise is that it’s a very
that the routes are viable. This will
lucrative business opportunity for
also ensure that no conflict will arise
taxi owners. There will always be
between drivers, even if it may seem
commuters; hence there will always
like the inevitable given the stigma of
be a business opportunities available
South Africa’s taxi operators.
for taxi operators.
Start-up capital
Who to register with
Commonly used vehicles are Toyota
As with any other business, owning
or Nissan taxies. These are called the
a fleet of taxis requires planning.
premium vehicles in the taxi industry
Planning
fleet
because of their reliability. These
the
taxies retail from about R100 000 to
necessary paperwork to operate in a
about R340 000, but for the overall
certain vicinity. After the business plan
cost that would include paying your
and funding has been obtained, the
license and taxi association fees, the
taxi owner must register his business
total cost can amount up to R350 000
with the appropriate South African
to start a taxi business.
agencies, including the Companies
Every industry has its flaws, and every
and Intellectual Property Registration
business comes with financial gains
Office
that
management
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involves
and
acquiring
Department
and financial losses. It’s up to the taxi
of Labour and the Department of
operator to ensure that his business
Transport. Thereafter the licensed
runs
(CIPRO),
the
smoothly.
Although
minibus
taxi driver is free to operate and can
taxis are a familiar sight on South
themselves. They don’t follow the rules
be hired for business.
Africa’s roads, the inner workings of
EDITOR
of the road. They skip red lights with
What you need to get started
the business are not generally well-
impunity. If you want to observe their
The most important certificate for
known. That is why before venturing
bad driving in all its glory, Soweto is
a taxi operator to have is a route
bull-headedly into this industry, it’s
the place.
license.
best to do the necessary research.
Taxi drivers’ reckless driving has
They simply disregard other road
upload the driver and vehicle details
Speak to someone in the know
claimed numerous victims, not to
users, not forgetting they march in
on a database, which will then in turn
Another great way to find insight into
mention innocent people who have
protest against the impounding of the
show if the route is profitable or not.
the world of taxi operators is to speak
been caught in the crossfire during
wrecks they sometimes drive.
If there are too many taxis on the same
to a driver about the ins and outs of
violence in the industry.
It’s
route, then the likelihood of the driver
the business. You will be able to get a
The taxi industry is the only one I
allowed to kill others in peace.
making a profit will be reduced.
better feel for it and even learn a few
know of that treats clients like trash.
If they want to be taken seriously, they
The routes are also allocated and
tricks of the trade amongst the rest of
Their actions lead to the deaths of
must start by respecting themselves
controlled by local governments, but
the drivers. People are always willing
pedestrians,
and the passengers.
the taxi association’s task is to be
to share if you are willing to ask.
A LETTER TO THE
other
motorists
and
like
people
demanding
to
be
The Mzansi Ndlovu Youth Choir continue to make us proud
The Ndlovu Youth Choir recently opened up about their journey on America’s Got Talent (AGT). The South African choir caught Mzansi’s attention following their stellar performance on the show that saw them receive a standing ovation. The video of their audition on the show received over five million views.
In an interview with Channel 24, the choir’s musical director, Ralf Schmitt said that the group is over the moon after they made it to the live show rounds. “We have received the most amazing messages of encouragement. One of the most beautiful ones was when someone said, ‘South Africa needs another 2010, and this is it’.”
The
taxi
association
will
TAXI BOSS BY DAY, SINGER BY NIGHT THEMBI Magubane (45) said being a taxi boss is not easy, but she has learnt to take the blows. The businesswoman from Daveyton, Ekurhuleni, owns nine taxis. She’s also a gospel singer with three albums under her belt. Thembi said she loved the taxi industry. The mother of two children said the taxi world is not always easy, but counting profits is always wonderful. “Some taximen find it hard to listen to a woman, even when I come up with a good idea,” she told Daily Sun. Thembi said there’s nothing that makes her more comfortable than walking around the taxi ranks. “The taxi industry needs respect and unity. “It’s a good investment opportunity, even though there are challenges.” Her recording label is called Music is Life. “During the day I run taxis and at night I’m busy writing songs.” She’s working on a live DVD. It will be released in November. “It will be released at the same time as I’m on tour in the UK,” she told the People’s Paper. Her album Singakwazi has been nominated for this year’s Ingoma Awards in the category of Best Female Artist.
26 JULY 2019
03
Teaching under the trees
Almost 12 years have gone by since the community of Tshiungani village was promised new classrooms for Lwathudwa Secondary School. The school was established in 2001, with four classrooms only, starting from Grade 8 to 10. In 2003, the school accepted its first Grade 11s, and the next year some Grade 12s. However, no classrooms were provided, which resulted in some classes’ being conducted under the trees. The school governing body (SGB) of the school has been submitting requests for more classrooms since then, with no success. “The department gave us four mobile classrooms in 2009 as a temporary solution to our problems. They promised that we would get classrooms in the following year. Since then, the department has been making empty promises that have not materialized until today,” said SGB chairperson Mr Nkhetheni Tshibalo. “In 2018, we communicated with the department telephonically, at which time we were given empty promises. Early February this year, we went to Polokwane where we met Ms Maswanganyi, whom we were referred to because Mr Senyatsi, the director for infrastructure, was not available.” He added that she showed them a file “which proved that our school will be built in the 2019/20 budget with 14 classrooms, an admin block, 24 toilets and nutrition centre”. Tshibalo said that they went back to Polokwane on 25 February and met Mr Senyatsi, who made the same promise that Ms Maswanganyi had made. “We requested nine mobile classes, so that our pupils can be accommodated while they are busy building new classrooms. Unfortunately, this promise was not fulfilled. We called him to make an appointment, but he said he was not in the office on that day. But when
we arrived at their offices, we met Mr Senyatsi in the parking bay, where he said he was in a hurry and referred us to Ndebele.” He added that they were then assured that they would get the classrooms in the first week of May. “He said they were modern mobile classes with air conditioning.” Tshibalo said that they agreed with the arrangement, “but when we asked about new classrooms, he said we would get them in 2020/21. He said the only thing we could get in this financial year were toilets.” Tshibalo said that they went back to Polokwane on 21 June and that they were informed that an order for the classes had been placed “and they were going to be delivered before the school re-opens. Unfortunately, we have not received these classes until today”. The school has an enrolment of 669 pupils. Tshibalo said the lack of classrooms was impacting negatively on the matric results. “Overcrowding in classrooms is making it difficult for educators to teach more effectively. Pupils cannot concentrate fully during outside classes under the trees as they are easily distracted by movements of cars and anything passing by.” He added that their concern was that the government only seemed to listen to people who resorted to destroying public property while engaging in protest marches. “As people who live in far-flung rural areas, we know the importance of the little resources we have. We are also aware the future of our children relies on education.” In his reaction to the situation at the school, the spokesperson for the Department of Education, Mr Sam Makondo, stated that: “As a department, there is no condition of any school we are not aware of. There is no infrastructure we are not aware of. We are addressing all challenges financial year after financial year.”
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26 JULY 2019
Community fighting crime using sport
The ever-increasing crime at Maniini outside Thohoyandou has been blamed on the youth, most of whom are just roaming the streets with nothing to do. This, however, could soon be a thing of the past, thanks to businessman Mr Mpho Nelwamondo, who is trying to get the youth back to the playing field. The 29-year-old businessman, who owns the Thavhani Guest House at Maniini and IT and finance companies with offices in Thohoyandou and Polokwane, handed over a full kit to the fourth-placed Maniini Ravies FC, a local team campaigning in the Thulamela Football Association, at the weekend. The donation came about after a community leader, Mr Eric Radzilani, approached him for assistance. In handing over the full kit, Nelwamondo said businesspeople
had a responsibility to help their communities, especially the youth. “As the business community, we can make a change in our communities. Crime is ravaging our communities. We can help change that by sponsoring the youth in sport, taking them from the streets and back to the playing field,” he said. He further indicated that, as a company, they were also financing youths who had business minds but did not have the finances to start up their businesses. “This is a way of ploughing back into the community and we will continue doing so as long as resources are available,” Nelwamondo said. Team manager Mulisa Ravele said he lacked words to thank their sponsor. “Youths with nothing to do face many temptations, most of the time ending up in prison. We are very excited as a team.”
Former soccer star Marc Batchelor shot dead Former Kaizer Chiefs star Robson Muchichwa says the death of former teammate Marc Batchelor is painful for him to come to terms with. Batchelor was shot several times in his car by two assailants on a motorbike and died on the scene. Recent reports have suggested the motive for the attack may have been linked to the former footballer’s role in a drug trafficking ring. The former Chiefs, Orlando Pirates, Mamelodi Sundowns and Moroka Swallows striker was sadly just 49-yearsold. Muchichwa told KickOff: “He was a
great guy both on and off the field. “My greatest memories playing with him was when we won the Rothmans Cup. That was a great memory with him at Kaizer Chiefs. “He was a born winner and he hated to lose. We would always sit down to discuss combinations and how we can score goals. “I am grateful that I contributed to his career and he also contributed to my career. “He is a legend and contributed to football in South Africa. It’s a loss. It’s painful how he died. It’s sad, but death is something that as human beings we can’t control.”