Flamboyant Mamelodi Local and Long-Distance Taxi Association (MALLDTA) chairperson Stemmer Monageng has lived up to his promise to honour the association’s veterans, widows and founders.
“Since I took over as MALLDTA’s chairperson in 2022 I made a vow to the association’s veterans, widows and founders that I will honour them and I will treat them with the dignity that they deserve because before my chairpersonship, they were abandoned, no one thought about them, no one cared about them and the situation was that of everybody for himself,” said Monageng.
“I am changing this association to become an organisation that cares for the people,” he said.
“I am also going to assist whoever is in need, irrespective of whether one is a veteran, a widow or not,” enthused Monageng.
On Thursday Monageng hosted the annual end-of-year event whereby among other things, he presented a Quantum taxi to a widow known as Mrs Moabelo after purchasing it with his own personal coffers.
Monageng also announced that he has adopted kids of widows since he took over in 2022 and he has since then been taking them on numerous trips and even last year he paid for a trip whereby they went to enjoy themselves during the December holidays, and that he is planning a similar trip for them again this festive season,
“I wish that all other taxi associations would do the same regarding the kids of the widows,” said Monageng.
He revealed that around 50% of the money he uses for helping the community is from his personal good heart, while the other 50% comes from MALLDTA.
He also revealed that for Thursday’s year-end function alone to honour the widows, veterans and founders of the association, about R180 000 was spent, of which R100 000 is from his own pocket and R80 000 is from MALLDTA.
“Life was difficult for me when I grew up because my mother passed on when I was six years old, and so when I see other people suffering it reminds me of where I come from personally, hence I don’t want to see other people suffering,” said Monageng as he explained in the process that his love and caring attitude towards people is something that is God-given to him.
Monageng was born in Section D1 in Mamelodi and says that’s what makes him love and care about the people of Mamelodi.
“This is the second time that MALLDTA executive and I are hosting such an annual event and in 2025 the event will be bigger,” said Monageng.
Monageng said the late husband of widow Mrs Moabelo was his mentor, taught him everything about the taxi industry and was also chairperson of MALLDTA before passing on.
“I am who I am today because of Mr Moabelo and when he passed on his family was left with nothing, so it has always been my wish that one day I will buy a Quantum taxi for the family so that they can use it to put bread on the table,” he said.
MATA chairman Ben Maredi said he has known Monageng for years and they got a strong bond and they are working together very closly and there is unity and peace in Mamelodi.
“Monageng has a good heart and working side by him it great and he has Ubuntu and he cares about his community and members and people close to him are very lucky to have him on their side,” said ZMTA chairman Mpho Motsepe.
Widow Shierly Moabelo wife of former late chairperson Lazarus Moabelo said she is very happy that Mr Monageng has done wonder to her family and she and her family been suffering a lot without income since her husband died.
“I’m so happy and I don’t have a word to explain, and I wished God could give him more blessing so that he can continue doing good work for the community and now there will never be hunger at home and I love the quantum taxi I got,” she said.
Amongst the guests were different taxi association from MATA chairman Ben Maredi, ZMTA chairman Mpho Motsepe, Advisory to taxi industry Sias Oostehuizen, Zanele Sibeko and business partners.
The best employee and best Que Marshall for the year were also honor.
The young girls who were entertaining the guests Monageng promised to buy them brand new shoes next year January and Lethu Link company received R10 000 rand.
All the route committee of MALLDTA got a bonus and former 5 members who started the association were also honor with a certificate from William Mashego, Lucas Ntuli, David, Zimo, July Mahlangu and Jabulani Mahlangu.
Guests party the night away and were spoil with drinks and food.
MATA chairman Ben Maredi was also amongst the guests who was honor.