Durban - A brave taxi boss chased off his attackers after being shot in the arm by while driving in eMachobeni in Inanda outside Durban.
Mdubane Madlala, 65, who is the newly elected deputy chairman of the Lindelani Taxi Association, on Monday told the Daily News about his ordeal.
Madlala said he was driving to his house in Molweni on Thursday at about 2pm when a speeding car appeared behind him. He moved to the side of the road to give way.
“I could count 10 shots being fired. I do not know how I survived. They wanted me dead for a reason I do not know. They started shooting from the back. When I moved to the edge of the road, shots continued to hit my car from the side as they were overtaking,” he said.
The car, a blue Toyota Corolla, stopped in front of Madlala’s black bakkie, which by then had been riddled with bullets, the windscreen and other windows smashed.
A shaken Madlala, checked his bleeding left arm before cocking his own gun and driving towards his attackers.
“I was so angry I wanted to shoot them too, but they realised danger and quickly drove off,” said Madlala, who then sped off to hospital to have his arm treated.
He said it was the second attempt on his life since he had been made deputy chairman of the taxi association earlier this year.
Madlala, who owns 10 taxis, said he could not rule out the possibility that there was a plot to kill him him because he always told the truth.
“I do not know who is responsible. I have been in the industry for more than 20 years. But I know telling the truth could create more enemies in this industry,” Madlala said.
Police spokesman Captain Thulani Zwane said the motive for the shooting was unknown.
“Police are investigating a case of attempted murder,” said Zwane. No arrests had been made.
l KwaZulu-Natal Community Safety MEC Willies Mchunu had met two North Coast taxi associations over the weekend in a bid to end violence, the department said on Monday.
“We have entered into an agreement with both associations to fast-track issuing of their operating licences, and we expect everyone to participate in this process objectively for us to achieve stability in the industry in the Greater iLembe region,” Mchunu said.
Mchunu intervened because a passenger had been shot at a taxi rank in Stanger last week.
The passenger was recovering in hospital.
Tensions between the KwaDukuza and Maphumulo taxi associations were over the Darnell route.
“Our intervention as government is to ensure that we provide a safe public transport environment for citizens,” he said.
Daily News