Zinhle Dhlamini: redefining the taxi industry one clean minibus at a time

ZINHLE “MaSibal’khulu” Dhlamini cuts a striking figure in a crowd of men when she lines up against competitors in the increasingly popular competition among taxi drivers to showcase the cleanest and most stylish minibus.

The contest, known as uMdlalo waManzi (the water game), celebrates aesthetics and cleanliness in the taxi industry and has grown into an inter-provincial event. It features not only minibuses but also single-cab bakkies and seven-seater vehicles, many of which are customised with lowered suspensions, a style known as “stance”.

At 30, Dhlamini has carved out a name for herself with her two eye-catching Toyota Quantum minibuses, affectionately dubbed Candy Crush and Sponge Bob by her loyal social media following.

“What made me love this competition is the fortitude I have,” she said. “Where people say, ‘Women won’t enter,’ I do. I love clean cars. Because I have a taxi, Candy Crush, and I love it, I decided to repaint it and enter. And I keep winning.”

Her success has not only won her trophies but also an enthusiastic online fan base, which christened her vehicles with their playful names.

“The support is growing, and we’ve even travelled beyond the border. With Candy Crush we have been to eSwatini. All of this has shown me that as a woman you can enter spaces you’re told not to and still flourish,” she said.

Her passion for cars started while working as an assessor for a panel-beating company. Before long she bought her first car, a Renault Clio she customised with new rims and lowered suspension, naming it Nkosenhle (“great king”). That was followed by Candy Crush, which ferries passengers in Bhamshela, oZwathini, north of Durban.

Unfazed by warnings about the dangers of the taxi industry, Dhlamini threw herself into it with determination.

“I have no fear. They say this industry is not safe, but I want to see it for myself. I didn’t grow up around taxis; I only came into contact with them recently,” she said.

Her first major breakthrough came when she entered a competition in Nkandla and discovered her love for both the business and the showmanship of clean-car contests. She soon expanded her fleet with Sponge Bob and kept her Clio in service as an e-hailing car. Later, she added a Renault Kwid named Nkazimulo (“glory”), also for e-hailing.

Outside the taxi ranks, Dhlamini is also an entrepreneur. She runs a laundromat, recently launched a security company, and operates the MaSibal’khulu Foundation, a non-profit organisation that assists disadvantaged families with food parcels, school uniforms and other essentials.

Her personal car is a Haval Jolion, which she has left untouched.

“I didn’t do anything to it, as I like it as it is. It has alloy rims and a sunroof, which is sporty enough for me,” she said.

Although private about her personal life, Dhlamini confirmed she lives in Durban, is unmarried, and has no children.

"But there is an 'uncle' in my life. On TikTok they call me 'aunt',” she said with a laugh.

Looking ahead, she hopes to use booking fees from appearances to grow her fleet. “People want to see MaSibal’khulu. They book me, and with that money I’ll get another car for competitions. This is something women shouldn’t be afraid of. Have the confidence to step into spaces where people say you don’t belong. Don’t listen to those who talk about dangers and shootings.”

In an industry long seen as a male preserve, Dhlamini has forced her peers to recognise her not as a woman, but as an equal.

SUNDAY TRIBUNE