POLOKO TAU
THE ALEXANDRA taxi boss who was shot dead at the weekend was in the process of uniting two rival taxi associations.
This is according to Gauteng Taxi Council (Gataco) government liaison officer Ralph Jones, who said Michael Yende, chairman of the Alexandra Taxi Association (ATA) and Gataco, was killed in front of the government official, with whom he’d just had a meeting, his brother and other members of the association.
The police are still hunting for two unknown gunmen who opened fire on Yende in Marlboro on Friday, killing him instantly.
Jones said Yende was saying goodbye to the government official after their meeting at the ATA offices when he was attacked.
“The official was in his car and Yende was standing outside, and they were still talking when the gunmen came and shot at him. He was killed in the presence of his elder brother, the government official, as well as other taxi association executives who had been part of their meeting.”
Jones said they didn’t know whether his death was taxi-related or linked to his private deals. He said Yende did not have any known enemies.
“He preached peace and believed conflicts can be resolved through dialogue instead of violence. He was in the process of getting Gataco and our rival association, National Taxi Alliance, to come together because he believed Gauteng needed one structure.”
Jones said a memorial service for Yende would be held at Alexandra Technical College at 11am tomorrow and he would be buried in Pretoria on Saturday.