Durban - Those fuelling violence in the KwaZulu-Natal taxi industry will be dealt with by the law.
This was the message from the MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison, Willies Mchunu, who said on Monday that he was concerned at the killing of two taxi operators in separate incidents in Pietermaritzburg last week.
Police confirmed local taxi boss Mlindeni Mthalane, 59, was gunned down by two unknown assailants while meeting his drivers on Thursday night. He was rushed to hospital, but died on the way.
The motive for Mthalane’s assassination is unknown, but police are working to apprehend those believed to be behind the killing.
In a separate incident on Thursday, 36-year-old taxi driver Zibongele Myeza was shot dead in Swayimane.
It is alleged the gunman pretended to be a passenger in the taxi, travelling from Pietermaritzburg to Swayimane.
He shot Myeza as he was alighting the taxi, before he jumped into a getaway vehicle, which was believed to have been following the taxi from Pietermaritzburg.
“The killings in the taxi industry are disturbing... Innocent people sometimes get caught in crossfire,” Mchunu said. “The shootings of Mthalane and Myeza are unacceptable as they were men trying to provide for their families.”
The MEC said he was certain police would bring those responsible to book.
Daily News