The Delmas taxi community is in shock after a taxi boss was supposedly assassinated out of a mechanic’s house on 12 February in Barberton.
The Mpumalanga police have since launched a manhunt for the suspect(s) in relation to the murder case.
Reportedly, the taxi owner was shot dead by while parking his Toyota Quantum at a mechanic’s house in Barberton. An armed man had suddenly emerged out of nowhere and fired a shot that resulted in the death of the 34-year-old man.
The suspect(s) are reported to have fled the scene after the shooting of the taxi owner. The local police were notified as well as the paramedics who upon arrival, pronounced the man deceased. A Delmas taxi marshal who refused to be named here said, “When these killings start like this, it becomes extremely intense on the roads and the whole sector generally as you well know that the taxi business is a territory game. I only wish that the police detectives do their work and arrest the hitman and the people behind this.”
By time of going to print, the Highveld Chronicle was yet to get any comments from the Delmas Taxi Association.
Bra Busi, a Delmas taxi driver plying the Botleng Extension 3 and the town’s central business district route said, “Government needs to act fast and soon on the taxi industry. Reforms are needed to bring sanity to the sector. The violence, deaths and possession of guns by taxi drivers is increasingly becoming too dangerous for normal competitive business to take place. The attacks and killings will continue and no one will be arrested. Violence will go unchecked because no one cares or has the guts to deal with the bosses. Us the drivers and the boss do whatever we want, maybe that is why violence persists.”
After the shooting and killing of the taxi owner in Barberton, on the same evening of 11 February, another taxi owner’s family was targeted after it came under attack from suspect(s) who opened fire on the man’s house. No one was injured. Police were informed about this and a case of attempted murder was opened. Preliminary investigation suggests that the suspect(s) was/were targeting the taxi owner who was not at home at the time of the incident. Mpumalanga police are urging anyone with information that can assist in the apprehension of the suspects to call Captain Jabulane Mashiane at 0823739097. Alternatively, members of the public can call the Crime Stop number on 08600 10111 or send information via MYSAPSAPP.
