×

We've got news for you.

Register on SowetanLIVE at no cost to receive newsletters, read exclusive articles & more.
Register now

MEC condemns killing of KZN taxi operator

Mxolisi Kaunda Picture: ANCKZN twitter
Mxolisi Kaunda Picture: ANCKZN twitter

KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport‚ Community Safety and Liaison‚ Mxolisi Kaunda‚ has strongly condemned the killing on Friday afternoon of taxi operator Mdu Tony outside Ballito north of Durban.

Tony‚ who was the PRO of the Dolphin Coast taxi association‚ is one of several taxi-industry-associated slayings in the Ilembe district in recent months.

 These include the deaths of at least five taxi operators‚ including the secretary of the Dolphin Coast Taxi Association‚ Dan Maharaj‚ the deputy chairperson of the KwaDukuza/ Stanger Taxi Association‚ Bongizwe Mhlongo‚ and three operators from the Maphumulo Taxi Association — Sibusiso Sokhela‚ Nkosingiphile Maphumulo and Mboneni Mnyandu.

Those responsible for their deaths have already been sentenced or are awaiting trial or sentencing.

One of them‚ Sizwe Msinga Ngubane‚ 35 was sentenced to 140 years in a landmark case for killing taxi operators and security guards during an ambush on the R74 between KwaDukuza and Maphumulo in 2015.

Ngubane was found guilty on four counts of murder and eight counts of attempted murder.

 In January 2015‚ a convoy of security guards escorting Maphumulo taxi owners was ambushed by a group of people disguised as construction workers. More than 10 firearms belong to a security company were confiscated by the police.

Kaunda on Saturday called an urgent meeting with the leadership of the South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO) at provincial and regional levels‚ the Dolphin Coast Taxi Association‚ SAPS‚ and officials of the Departments of Transport as well as Community Safety and Liaison‚ to get to the bottom of the conflict.

The South African Police Service on Saturday reassured Kaunda and the industry that Tony’s killers would be quickly brought to book with speed as police were already following key leads.

The taxi industry expressed shock over the killing of Tony‚ whom they described as an advocate for peace and stability in the taxi industry.

SANTACO’s provincial chairperson‚ who is also the organisation’s national second deputy president‚ Boy Zondi‚ called on the Dolphin Coast Taxi Association to allow the police to do their work‚ assisted by them‚ to find the killers.

“We have worked very hard to attain broad peace and stability in the taxi industry; we can’t fail now‚” said Zondi.

“The Ilembe District’s taxi industry has been broadly stable since the arrest of the taxi industry violence in the various associations in 2015. The recent killings‚ including yesterday’s killing of Mr Mdu Tony of Dolphin Coast‚ threatens to destabilise our industry and province.

“We are saddened by Mr Tony’s killing and wish to convey our condolences on behalf of government to his family‚ friends and colleagues in the taxi industry. But we are also encouraged that the police are following the leads towards a speedy arrest of the perpetrators of this crime‚ which we strongly condemn. We will work hard to ensure that we do not regress‚” said Kaunda.

Kaunda urged the industry to remain calm‚ and share information with the police to ensure a speedy arrest of the killers.

 

 

 

Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.

Speech Bubbles

Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.