Mamelodi Local and Long Distance Taxi Association (MALLDTA) chairperson Stemmer Monageng hosted the association’s annual year-end party to honour the widows of members who have passed on and also to give recognition to living veterans of the association and also honour the road committee.
The party was held at the Derdepoort Recreation Resort in Tshwane.
Amongst the guests was officials from Gauteng department of roads and transport, officials from city of Tshwane at roads and transport, management of Gauteng road traffic, TMPD officials.
“Our aim is to celebrate together with the widows so as to show them that we have not abandoned them, and we have also invited the association’s veterans (founder members) as well as our road committee members to join us in this regard,” said Monageng.
“I feel that we must show them that we care a lot by taking them on an outing as many of them don’t have a chance to go and enjoy themselves at places like hotels, and today I am going to give them a huge Christmas present,” he said.
Monageng has been hosting Christmas parties for MALLDTA widows and veterans since he took over as chairperson of the association three and a half years ago.
“Charity begins at home, that is why I always start by honouring and celebrating with MALLDTA widows and veterans,” he said.
“I am concerned about the livelihood of the widows because on their own they can’t run their taxi businesses but need help from us as men in the association,” he said.
“Gone are the days whereby dirty schemers would swindle widows and take away their taxi businesses because we are watching, and my appeal is that taxi-related killings must stop as we don’t want to have more widows in this regard,” said Monageng as he in the process revealed that she wants the widows to regard him as a father figure and approach him without fear when in need.
“My message to all women, veterans and widows is that they must enjoy their Christmas festive season responsibly and drink at home instead of drinking and driving,’ said Monageng.
MALLDTA Secretary Jeannette Matjeke mentioned that she is the first woman to serve in the executive committee of MALLDTA, which is dominated by men.
“We have plus-minus 25 widows in MALLDTA whose husbands died as a result of taxi violence and we are happy that chairperson Monageng has realised that these widows suffer a lot as they can’t run their taxi businesses on their own and their lives are in disarray and decided that I must form the MALLDTA women’s league to cater for the needs of the said widows,” said Matjeke.
“Every three months Mr Monageng donates money, groceries and school uniforms to the widows irrespective of whether their taxis are still operating or not,” she said.
54-year-old Selinah Mashaba from Moloto village, whose husband Solly Mashaba died in taxi-related violence in 2018, told Tshwane Talks that life became difficult but through the help of MALLDTA she managed to take over the taxi business from her late husband.
She praised Stemmer Monageng and Jeanette Matjeke as they take care of them at all times.
58-year-old Julia Masilela of Mamelodi West said she and other widows are happy about the treatment that they get from chairperson Stemmer Monageng as he provides them with money, groceries and gifts and that they are living comfortably due to his assistance.
Her husband was killed in 2008.
“I will definitely vote for Monageng to be chairperson of MALLDTA again,” she said.
Another widow Shirley Moabelo of Extension 5 Mamelodi East said Stemmer Monageng is looking after them very well as widows because they get everything from him and have no complaints whatsoever but are instead very satisfied.
Her husband Lazarus Lassy Moabelo was killed in 2018.
47-year-old widow Lizzy Mahlangu became a member of MALLDTA after taking over the business from her late husband VA Mahlangu who was killed in 2022.
“Since joining MALLDTA I have never experienced any problems because whenever we are in need of anything Mr Monageng always comes to our aid,” she said.
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