CATA BOSS SHOT DEAD

BARELY 72 hours after Western Cape Mobility Department reopened taxi routes after a month-long shutdown due to violent clashes between rival associations, a Cata taxi boss has been shot and killed and two others wounded on the R 300 towards Somerset West yesterday.

The closure of the routes followed six fatalities linked to disputes between Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association (Cata) and the Cape Organisation for the Democratic Taxi Association (Codeta).

Restrictions were lifted last Friday while negotiations continue. Police spokesperson Sergeant Wesley Twigg said police was determining the motive behind the shooting.

Twigg confirmed: “Delft police responded to a complaint of a shooting on Monday morning, 20 October, at about 9.15am on the R300, and upon arrival on the scene they found a 32-year-old male who sustained gunshot wounds to his body. The suspect/s fled the scene and are yet to be arrested.”

Cata spokesperson Nkululeko Sityebi said last night they were devastated that one of their longest serving members, Thembelani Mzola, was murdered, stating that their executive members are being taken out.

In September, Cata’s first deputy chairperson, Mnikeli Mgope, 61, was shot and killed while sitting in his Toyota Fortuner at Nyanga taxi rank.

Sityebi said: “This is a big loss for Cata. We are appealing for arrests to be made. 

“All the executive members have been gunned down, there is a trend.

“There have been no arrests made in our executive members’ cases...The lives of the taxi businessman, it looks like it means nothing.”

Siyebi added that they could not point fingers on who was responsible for the killings.

Codeta, meanwhile, issued a statement that said they wished to distanced themselves from any violence.

Codeta said: “The Codeta Regional Taxi Council is shocked and saddened by the tragic events that have unfolded, resulting in the loss of life, including the shooting of a taxi boss on the R300 southbound towards Somerset West.”

“We would like to extend our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of the deceased.

“We strongly distance ourselves from any actions or individuals that may have contributed to this violence.”

Benson Ngqentsu, ANC Caucus Spokesperson in the Legislature, called on both Cata and Codeta to urgently end their feud.

He added: “We urge the Western Cape Government to step in and do everything possible to help resolve this crisis.”