MEC concerned by ongoing taxi murders

THE Western Cape government is keeping tabs on ongoing taxi killings after a minibus owner was murdered in Lwandle near Somerset West. 

Mzukisi Zwakala, 44, was shot dead and found inside his Toyota Quantum with multiple wounds to the head and body. Two others in the taxi were wounded.

The shooting incident comes shortly after the reopening of taxi routes between Khayelitsha, Mfuleni and Somerset West after a month-long shutdown due to violent clashes between rival associations Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association (Cata) and Codeta (Cape Organisation for the Democratic Taxi Association).

Cata spokesperson Nkululeko Sityebi confirmed that Zwakala was a member, however could not provide details of the incident.

Sityebi said: “We don’t have an idea as to what happened. The best people who would know what transpired is the investigator as we cannot assume what happened.”

Police spokesperson Captain FC van Wyk said that Lwandle police registered a murder and two counts of attempted murder following the shooting incident.

Van Wyk reported: “On Monday, 27 October at 5pm on the corner of Hlati Drive and Isikolo Street, Lwandle, a 44-year-old male was shot and fatally wounded and two others including a woman wounded.

“According to reports SAPS members attended to a complaint of a shooting incident at the mentioned address and on arrival they found a white Toyota Quantum, with the victim behind the driver’s seat with multiple gunshot wounds to the head and body.

“The injured victims were taken to a nearby medical facility for treatment.”

Western Cape Mobility spokesperson Ntobeko Mbingeleli said that Minister of Mobility Isaac Sileku has been informed of the incident, stating it is of grave concern.

Mbingeleli said: “Violence has no place in our society and the Minister condemns this callous act with the greatest degree. While we await the official report from SAPS on whether this is related to reopening the previously closed routes, we will be monitoring the situation closely. 

“Should it be confirmed that this shooting is linked to the contested routes, we will take decisive steps to safeguard the lives of commuters.”

Anyone with information about this shooting incident can contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or use the mobile application MySAPS anonymously.