Another taxi boss was killed in KwaZulu-Natal, this time in Utrecht outside Newcastle, on the northern part of the province.
The victim Sibusiso Nkomonde was ambushed by unknown gunmen on Sunday night.
Nkomonde is the chairperson of Sizwe taxi association.
The latest killing of yet another taxi boss has shocked many in the industry.
Sixty-six-year-old Sibusiso Nkomonde was attacked allegedly by three unknown gunmen at the Mzinyathi bridge near Osizweni.
He suffered gunshot wounds to the upper body and was declared dead at the scene.
The motive for the ambush remains unknown, however the on-going taxi violence in the province cannot be ruled out.
It’s believed Nkomonde was attacked with an AK 47 as a number of spent cartridges were found at the scene.
Chairperson of the Amajuba regional Taxi association, Dumsani Ntuli, has appealed for calm after the incident. He says they are shocked by the manner in which Nkomonde was attacked:
“We are shocked because we did not anticipate we can be under attack. We condemn the killing incident. We appeal for calm and urge all stakeholders to resolve their differences over negotiations. We wish police can work swiftly and arrest those responsible for this incident.”
Last week Klipriver taxi association boss, Mzikayifani Ngobese, was ambushed at Ladysmith and died along with ten people including a number of teachers.
Allegations are that the Klipriver association and Sizwe Taxi association are at loggerheads over the lucrative Ladysmith-Johannesburg route.
Police in KwaZulu-Natal say there has been no arrest. Spokesperson Thembeka Mbhele explains, “At the moment we can not specify what is the motive of the killing was but the taxi violence cannot be ruled out also no arrest have been made and the case of murder was reported at Utrecht and investigated by Utrecht detectives but will be transferred to the provincial taxi violence task team we further appeal to the community to please assist the police with the information or the witnesses who have seen the incident to please contact our crime stop number 080010111 or to go to Utrecht police station and give information to detectives there.”
A neighbour of the late Nkomonde, Chief Siphamandla Khumalo, has called on government to intervene:
“I knew Mr Nkomonde very well he used to advise me on some development in our community. We are saddened by his death. I wish government can intervene to put an end to the taxi violence.”
Nkomonde’s family declined to speak to the media about their loss.
