THE challenges facing widows who struggle with carrying on the legacies of their departed spouses in the taxi industry were the main topic at the latest elective conference of the SA Taxi Council (Santaco) KwaZulu-Natal.
The Santaco KZN Women's Desk elective conference, which takes place every four years, was held last week at Shuku Green Leaf Estate in Pietermaritzburg, where a new structure was elected.
The new chairperson of the Women's Desk, Mhle Mjoli, described their structure as very important for women in the taxi industry.
She said the it plays a key role in equipping women on what to do once their spouses die. Mjoli said this is an important challenge and one that the taxi industry shouldn't shy away from. She emphasised the important of empowering and assisting women who find it difficult to continue with the taxi business once they become widows.
"There's a lot that this structure is doing for women in the taxi industry. Some of it is mentorship for women who take over the reins of running the taxi business once their husbands depart," said Mjoli.
She stressed the importance of stopgap measures and assistance for widows.
Santaco's chairperson, Sifiso Shangase, highlighted the importance of ensuring that deaths of husbands shouldn't mean the end of putting bread on the table for families who are in the taxi industry. He described the structure as important in skills training and support for widows.
The leadership structure also comprises of Jabulisile Khumalo was elected as the deputy chairperson, Sihle Nkosi as the secretary and Gloria Mngadi as the deputy secretary. Nokuthula Kheswa was elected treasurer, Zibuyile Ngcobo as the public relations officer, Thandeka Luthuli as the training officer and Phumzile Madida and Sizakele Mdluli are the additional members.
These women represents the different regions of Santaco in KwaZulu-Natal.