DURBAN - KwaZulu-Natal Transport, Community Safety and Liaison MEC Peggy Nkonyeni has condemned the violence in the public transport sector after the murder of two bus drivers in Ndwedwe on Monday and the killing of a taxi owner in Pinetown on Saturday.
The department said in the first incident, two bus driver siblings were shot and killed a month after their boss, the owner of Injabuliso Bus Service, was murdered in oThongathi.
It was alleged that the two bus drivers, aged 36 and 38, were shot and declared dead at the scene, while injured passengers were taken to hospital for medical attention.
It is believed that the suspects fled in a silver Toyota Etios, but the registration plates were removed. Ndwedwe police were investigating a case of double murder.
With reference to the shooting on Saturday, the department said police investigations revealed that at about 9.30am, a black Mercedes was driving up Bamboo Lane in Pinetown when it was ambushed by assailants travelling in an unknown silver vehicle.
Further investigations revealed that a gun battle ensued, and the black Mercedes hit the wall on Windsor Road. The driver, an unidentified 53-year-old African man, was shot by the occupants of the silver vehicle.
He suffered multiple gunshot wounds to the head and face. A case of murder has been opened.
Nkonyeni said: “We strongly condemn this brutal act and have called on police to move swiftly with the investigation to ensure that they arrest the heartless killers. The perpetrators will face the full might of the law. We take a firm stance against crime generally.”
Nkonyeni, on behalf of the provincial government, sent her condolences to the families of the deceased.
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