Bozwana feared for his life

Wandile Bozwana.

Wandile Bozwana.

Published Oct 4, 2015

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Johannesburg - “It was not the first time an attempt on Wandile Bozwana’s life was made, but this time it was fatal.”

These were the sentiments expressed by Modisenyane Segapo – Bozwana’s “best friend” and municipal manager of Naledi Municipality in Vryburg in North West – yesterday.

Segapo said Bozwana had always had a premonition that ANC members in the North West wanted to kill him.

He said Bozwana never wanted to be in the same vicinity as ANC provincial executive members.

Segapo said a failed attempt on Bozwana’s life had allegedly occurred on the same N1 highway in July this year.

On Friday, unknown gunmen fired multiple gunshots at Bozwana and his girlfriend Mpho Baloyi while the two were travelling on the N1 highway to Pretoria.

Bozwana, a property mogul and former Bophuthatswana police officer during the apartheid years, suffered several gunshot wounds and later died at Unitas Hospital.

He was with Baloyi when the attack occurred.

Baloyi, the driver of the vehicle, was still in a serious condition in hospital.

While she was driving, a silver-grey BMW M3 pulled up next to their car near the Garsfontein off-ramp. The suspects fired several shots at Bozwana, who was the passenger.

Two hit Baloyi but she managed to drive to the Menlyn Shopping Centre to seek help.

Both were admitted in hospital, but Bozwana died of his wounds.

Yesterday, Segapo said there was a similar attempt on Bozwana’s life on the Joburg/Pretoria highway three months ago.

He said Bozwana had told him this when he arrived at his house in Vryburg, accompanied by Baloyi.

“During our discussion, he told me about an attempt on the same road. He said he was driving his Mercedes when he realised that he was being followed.

“According to Bozwana, when he drove slowly, the driver of the car following him would also drive slowly.

“He said upon realising that he was being followed, he took out his machine gun and loaded it.”

Baloyi was seated next to him. He said he instructed her to open her window. He wanted to launch a pre-emptive attack because he thought they wanted to attack him once he had reached an isolated stretch of the highway.

“According to him, he took the nearest off-ramp and drove away from the suspects,” Segapo said.

Explaining Bozwana’s alleged premonition, Segapo said he, Bozwana, Baloyi and other friends had booked in at the Villa Maria Hotel in Klerksdorp for the weekend of August 14 to August 16.

Segapo said they left for Ventersdorp on the Saturday to attend the funeral of Bozwana’s protégé, businessman Olebogeng Gaanakgomo.

They returned to Klerksdorp and later they left the Villa Maria Hotel to go to the casino for dinner and drinks.

“While we were at the casino, Bozwana told us he was leaving. He had received information that the ANC provincial executive members and their staffers were also booked at the Villa Maria.

“Bozwana felt agitated. I could see he was fearing for his own life. I could see the fear in his eyes,” Segapo said.

He said Bozwana, despite protests from Baloyi, went to the hotel, packed his bags and left in the middle of the night.

Segapo said Bozwana thought an attack was imminent that day and that the “ANC guys in the North West knew his cars”.

“I am not saying the North West ANC guys killed him, but this was the real fear he had communicated to me and others.”

Other sources said North West Premier Supra Mahumapelo allegedly reported Bozwana to the ANC’s national executive committee for allegedly instigating business forum and taxi protests in Mahikeng in May this year.

Mahumapelo’s spokeswoman, Bridgette Seokamo, said she was unaware of this, but could confirm that Mahumapelo was present at an ANC provincial executive meeting when ANC members complained about the conduct of Bozwana and former Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality mayor Themba Gwabeni.

“I do not know of any complaint personally lodged by the premier to the NEC,” Seokamo said.

Segapo added:

“Bozwana was concerned about his safety. He was always on security alert. He had a private pilot and security guard. He also had a private plane which he used to visit his business sites in Kuruman. As a former police officer, he was highly trained.”

Bozwana was on the verge of establishing a McDonald’s franchise in Vryburg after securing land there for R3.2 million. - The Sunday Independent

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