A respected Libode taxi owner appeared in the Mthatha Magistrate’s Court in the Eastern Cape on Tuesday in connection with the killing of a taxi operator.

Lulamile Mtukwana‚ 41‚ is charged with the murder of taxi operator Sihle Mto‚ 22‚ who was shot dead on May 24 near the Circus Triangle Mall in Mthatha when taxi violence erupted in Mthatha and Libode.

Mtukwana was arrested on June 1 by the Hawks‚ seven days after Mto’s murder.

It emerged in court on Tuesday that Mtukwana visited the Hawks offices in Mthatha and tried to give them wrong information. But they instead pounced on him days after his visit.

Investigating officer Sergeant Thembile Nomachiwa told the court that police had initially struggled to arrest Mtukwana as he was always travelling to Johannesburg or Durban.

 Nomachiwa asked the court not to grant the accused bail‚ saying he feared that some people — including a group that marched to the court – might want to seek revenge. Nomachiwa also believed that Mtukwana would interfere with investigations.

State prosecutor Zuko Mvulane said granting the accused bail will lead to public disorder and a community outcry.

 Judgment on the bail application was reserved till Tuesday next week.