WATCH | Mandla Gcaba shares the untold story of the Gcaba family
· The South African
Mandla Gcaba, a prominent transport mogul, shared the untold story of the Gcaba family in an exclusive interview with Nhlaka Production TV.
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He unpacked the infamous taxi war of 1996 following his father’s death, the formation of the Gcaba Brothers, and his views on the government and the transport industry, including sharing some advice.
AN EMPIRE BUILT ON STRONG FAMILY VALUES
In the first video, Mandla shared that it was his older brother, Roma Gcaba, who originally came up with the name “Gcaba Brothers.”
Roma’s vision was to create a “vehicle that will bring them together,” ensuring that nothing divides them because they are a family that thrives on unity and support.
The remaining siblings have clearly executed the vision expanding into industries such as mining, construction, security, and farming, with their dominant lane of influence in the bus and taxi sector.
Their farming business, Simon Family Farms, is known for producing high-quality meat, while their taxis operate in multiple provinces such as KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, and Cape Town.
@gcaba_nkosikhona ♬ original sound – nogwajaaa
HOW THE GCABAS GAINED RESPECT
In the second video, Mandla explained how the family gained popularity, admitting he had planned to reserve such information for a future book about the Gcaba family, but decided to share anyway.
After the murder of his father, Simon Mkhulekelwa Gcaba, Mandla approached the KZN police commissioner and his deputy, General Khanyile, to arrange a meeting with the suspects, some of whom had already fled the country.
The intention of this meeting was for the Gcabas to understand the motives behind their father’s death and to seek a resolution if their father was in the wrong.
However, the Gcaba family was attacked after the meeting. This incident signalled the attackers’ lack of humanity.
In response to this attack, they had to defend themselves, emerging victorious despite fighting much older people. That’s how the Gcaba family earned the respect and reverence, leading to one of the biggest taxi wars in history.
‘THE TAXI INDUSTRY IS THE BACKBONE OF OUR COUNTRY’S ECONOMY’
Mandla discussed the lack of government support for the taxi industry, which is strange given that it is the backbone of our country’s economy.
This remains a thorny subject for taxi owners, with many meetings held to discuss these issues – even during Fikile Mbalula’s tenure as transport minister – yet by 2026, none of those ideas had been implemented.
On the brighter side, Mandla listed some positive changes in the taxi industry, such as impressive growth, with over 300.000 registered taxis to date. There are also plans to diversify and compete in other transport sectors, such as e-hailing, which has proven to be lucrative.
When asked for advice for aspiring taxi owners, Mandla raised concerns about the industry’s current instability and warned against getting into it blindly. However, not all is lost; if these issues are resolved, the industry could undoubtedly be lucrative.
RESPECT AND HUMILITY ARE KEY
Mandla shed light on his humility, stating that he has been humble since childhood. He has also relied on this trait a lot, especially during his transition from the taxi industry to buses.
He also recalled how his late father respected his employees, referring to them as “abasizi” (helpers) instead of “abasebenzi” (workers).
Mandla enjoys a good working relationship with his team and believes it is important to respect everyone despite their financial standing.
The late Simon Mkhulekelwa Gcaba. Image via TikTok/@gcaba_nkosikhonaADVICE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE
In closing, the family plans to give back to the community by establishing the Simon Mkhulekelwa Gcaba Foundation.
Mandla also shared his advice with the youth, encouraging them to pursue education even though it doesn’t always guarantee success.
He also stressed the importance of balancing work and leisure time, warning that alcohol should not dominate their lives.