Four KwaZulu-Natal women, who have taken over their husbands taxi businesses, are living in fear because they refuse to stay quiet about millions of rands that were allegedly embezzled from the Klipriver Taxi Associations funds.
Simmering tensions over the missing funds have allegedly spilled over into violence last year after an audit confirmed that R3 million is missing. They say they are also discriminated against in their taxi association because they are women.
Shonganie Gamede took over her husbands taxi business 10 years ago after he passed away. She and 3 other women, who became taxi owners under similar circumstances, are members of the Klipriver Taxi Association in Ladysmith.
Gamede claims there have been tensions within the association for years, amid allegations that money has gone missing. She alleges that a SANTACO audit of the associations books at the beginning of last year confirmed that R3 million is missing.
Since the end of last year, there have been several attacks, claiming the lives of members of the association. Fellow taxi owner Zodwa Mvelase says they have received numerous death threats because they refuse to keep quiet.
