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Taxi owner’s family demand answers following his murder

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Family members of the 58 year-old taxi owner who was gunned down with his 16-year-old son on the R603 in Mbumbulu south of Durban say they want answers.

Bonga Makhanya and his son Melusi were travelling to Isipingo during the early hours of Monday morning when unknown suspects attacked.

Makhanya’s four-year old grandson, who was in the back seat, survived.

Makhanya is chairperson of the Umbumbulu Taxi Association.

His younger brother Duze Makhanya says the family was not aware of the deceased being involved in any disputes in the taxi industry.

He says: “We are deeply hurt, we don’t even know what the motive was. We didn’t even know that my brother had enemies.”

“I think they were following him. We heard gunshots in the morning and we rushed there only to find my brother and his son dead. What really hurts even more is the fact that there was a 4 year-old inside the car. I don’t know how he survived. We know that he was chairperson of the Mbumbulu Taxi Association. It has now become a norm that taxi drivers here are killed in this fashion on this very same road,” says Makhanya.

Meanwhile police spokesperson, Thembeka Mbhele says: “The information that we have is that the 58 year-old male was driving along Mbumbulu towards Isipingo with his 16 year-old son as well as a 4 year-old boy when they were attacked by unknown suspects who fired several shots towards them, fatally wounding the 58 year-old and his 16 year-old.”

“The child was found unharmed but in a shocking condition under the seat where he was hiding. At the moment the motive of the killing is unknown but police are investigating a case of murder,” says Mbhele.

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