Missing vehicles and no money in the bank despite daily collections from taxi owners because of no record-keeping.
This is what a lawyer appointed as an administrator of the troubled Mamelodi Amalgamated Taxi Association (Mata) found in her first three months at the taxi body.
Hettie Groenewald, who is tasked with turning around the association besieged by violence, allegations of extortion and assassinations, said Mata has been working to create accountability and to eradicate what she called an "entrenched culture of revenge which has brought endless bloodshed".
She said she found an association which didn't have a single penny in its bank account despite collecting R100 weekly contributions per taxi from operators.
"It's been very hectic because number one, there was no book-keeping system in place, vehicles that belonged to the association were scattered all over and with the assistance of the SAPS, they went to collect the vehicles for me," Groenewald said.
Groenewald's term has now been extended until March next year. She was appointed by Gauteng transport MEC Jacob Mamabolo, who went to court to put Mata under administration following violence that had gone on for about four years leading to the killings of more than 20 taxi operators and drivers.
Groenewald has been tasked with getting the association – which was once allegedly run by feared jailed taxi boss Vusi "Khekhe" Mathibela – ready for free and fair elections of its new executive.
Mathibela has been accused of using the association's money, mainly weekly contributions by taxi operators, to fund his lifestyle in an alleged extortion racket.
Since Groenewald and her advisory team made up of other taxi industry people took over Mata, there has not been any incident of violence.
She said they have had to react proactively when they heard that there was possible violence going to erupt by alerting a task team appointed to address taxi violence in Mamelodi.
"Nothing [violence] has happened but I must thank the South African Police Service, there's a task team which assist me if I do get any information on violence which might erupt somewhere," she said.
Groenewald said although they have made progress, it was initially a very difficult decision accepting the role of being the association's administrator.
Mamabolo said Groenewald and her team have provided him with a model which he will be using to bring about stability in other taxi association in Tshwane, mainly in Centurion and Atteridgeville.
"I am impressed with the work that Hettie and her team have done. I have full confidence in them," Mamabolo said.
"We've never had peace in the Mamelodi taxis in the last 10 years like we've had in the three months that the association has been under administration."
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