Two taxi bosses killed

Stop this bloodbath, say police after fourth fatal shooting since March

“Imipu phantsi madoda! This is not a war. I beg you to stop this bloody violence irrespective of your differences.”

This was the passionate plea from Border Alliance Taxi Association (Bata) president Songezo Mpanda, in shock after another two taxi bosses were killed on Wednesday.

“Families are suffering. This creates widows and orphans and nobody is benefiting.

“We cannot continue killing each other like this, brothers against brothers.

“Instead we should be our brothers’ keepers and stop the bloodshed. Problems cannot be solved through the barrel of a gun but through negotiation and debate,” he said.

The two taxi bosses, Masixole Gebengu, 47, and Dumisani Bango, 42, of the Mamela subrank in Mthatha, died in a hail of bullets on Wednesday night.

This is the fourth fatal shooting, leaving five Mamela subrank taxi bosses slain since March. All the attacks are on Mamela sub-rank members and leaders, and all happened in Mthatha West.

Mpanda was in Mthatha last month meeting leaders and general members of the Mthatha Taxi Owners Association, as well as individual subranks including Mamela.

“They committed to assisting Mamela sub-rank to a ceasefire and finding an amicable way to solve their problems as a subrank,” Mpanda said.

Police spokesperson W/O Majola Nkohli said police were summoned after a white Toyota bakkie with two occupants crashed into the gate of a B&B in Slovo Park on the Mthatha Dam Road.

“The two occupants sustained gunshot wounds to the upper body and were declared dead at the scene.

“It is alleged residents heard several gunshots before the bakkie veered off the road.

“At this stage, details are still sketchy and police are following all leads,” Nkohli said.

OR Tambo police district commissioner Maj-gen Phumzile Cetyana, who was at the scene, condemned the violence in the taxi industry.

“This is the fourth taxi violence-related crime scene since March. We call upon the taxi industry leaders to find long-lasting solutions and stop this bloodbath.

“Police will leave no stone unturned and arrest those breaking the law,” Cetyana said.

Police urge anyone with information that could lead to the arrest of the suspect(s) to contact the investigating team on 082-393-1062. The information may also be shared via Crime Stop on 08600-10111.

Recent taxi violence attacks in Mthatha

● May 5: Mamela sub-rank acting chair Mthandeni Xekile was killed as gunmen sprayed his Toyota Hilux double-cab bakkie with bullets after he dropped his children off at school.

He was shot while driving near the Thornhill water treatment works on the Mthatha bypass connecting to the R61. Xekile was originally from Mpheko village but lived in Northcrest. He was killed by two unknown assailants who escaped on foot.

● March 18: Thandikhaya Mneno, 40, was shot dead on the same road near the Mthatha Dam, about 5km from where Xekile was murdered.

● March 7: Aphelele Ngqabayi, 41, was shot dead by unknown gunmen near Highbury. His fellow taxi boss Lucky Mbizo, 44, survived with injuries.