Codeta visits taxi war victims
|Published
SUPPORT: CODETA leaders at the Khayelitsha home of Pamela Nquma, with cast, and Okwenam. Picture supplied
The Congress of Democratic Taxi Association (CODETA) leaders on Friday visited the family of the six-month-old baby who was shot and wounded with her mother during the taxi war.
Okwenam was on her mom Pamela Nquma’s back when she was shot in the hand.
Her father Thoba Ntandane, 29, was killed along with his cousin Ntsikelelo Myeki, 23, in the incident in Khayelitsha on 15 July.
They were attacked as they were travelling home from Harare Police Station at the corner of Oscar Mpetha Road and Mew Way.
The duo were victims of the Paarl/Mbekweni and Bellville route dispute which CODETA and the Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association (CATA) were gunning for.
Both associations have since made peace after government closed the route.
Mom Pamela says the incident has left her with five bullet wounds.
“I shouldn’t be alive, but God protected me and my child,” she says.
“I can’t lift anything up and can’t look after my daughter.
“My relatives have to come and take care of us.
“They have shifts, I can’t do anything for myself.
“My hand can’t move and I must go for physiotherapy.”
Pamela says she was surprised when CODETA Secretary Andile Khanyi showed up at her Endlovini home.
“They called before and said that they would come but they never did.
“When they showed up on Friday, we were really shocked because we didn’t think they’d cared to see us.”
Khanyi tells the Daily Voice that they were there to check up on the survivors.
“We normally do that when our passengers are injured in our taxis,” he explains.
“We assist with the funeral.
“We give each family R10 000, even if they died in an accident, provided they were in our taxis.
“We left them R2000 and we told Pamela to contact us if they need anything.
“I know she still has to go to Tygerberg (Hospital), we will provide transport for her.”
Pamela says she is really happy about the visit.
“They said that they are serious about looking after the survivors.
“Sadly it will never bring back the father of my child who was taking care of us, financially.”