Soweto taxi owner Kwanele “MKZ” Makwanza has been gunned down, leaving loved ones and colleagues “shocked” and “heartbroken”.
Makwanza, who was a member of MDN Taxi Association, was shot and killed in Meadowlands Zone 1, Soweto, by unknown assailants.
Gauteng SAPS are on the lookout for suspects.
Provincial SAPS spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Mavela Masondo said police have opened a case of murder and are searching for the suspects after a man reported to be the taxi owner was allegedly shot and killed in Meadowlands on Sunday at about 2.45 pm.
“It is reported that the victim was driving an Audi TT at Reverend Modise Road when was shot at by unknown suspects. The motive for the killing cannot be confirmed at this stage,” Masondo said.
He appealed to anyone with information to contact their nearest police station or Crime Stop at 08600 10111.
MDN Taxi Association chairperson Sabelo Moya told The Star on Monday that they were aware that one of their members was murdered, but they were still not sure what happened.
“The association does not have any internal or external squabbles, so we are still baffled as to what is going on. Maybe as time goes on we will find out, but for now, we are just as dazed and heartbroken as everyone that was close to him,” Moya said.
The MEC for Roads and Transport in Gauteng, Kedibone Diale-Tlabela, conveyed its deepest condolences to the family of the deceased.
She condemned in the strongest possible terms the killings that are affecting the taxi industry.
Diale-Tlabela also cautioned against acts of violence and intimidation.
“Certainly these barbaric acts have no place in our society. In asserting the authority of the state, I am calling upon law enforcement agencies to clamp down on lawlessness and to bring to book those who perpetrate these criminal activities,” said Diale-Tlabela.
Soweto has been marred by taxi violence in recent years.
In April this year, “IOL News” reported that Diale-Tlabela said in terms of section 91 of the National Land Transport Act, she was in the process of publishing a notice in the provincial gazette indicating her intention to close affected Nanduwe and Wata taxi ranks and routes in Soweto.
She said the decision was taken after the resurgence of violence between the two associations which also threatened the safety of passengers, residents and the general public.
The Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, in 2020, ratified an agreement between Gauteng’s major taxi structures, the Gauteng National Taxi Alliance and the South African National Taxi Council (Santaco-Gauteng), giving the MEC powers to dissolve taxi associations involved in acts of violence.
The Star
ntombi.nkosi@inl.co.za