Taxi driver shot dead at his home
A 35-YEAR-OLD taxi driver who was shot dead in his driveway has become the latest victim in a series of suspected taxi industry-related murders.
Father-of-two Thandekile Mtywazo was shot and killed on Wednesday night while walking to his vehicle after opening the gates at his premises.
His uncle Sinethemba Keyi said the family were devastated.
“He had nothing but a brother's love for everyone in the family and even in the taxi industry. Many people in the family were dependent on him. We never heard any wrongdoings by him back at home in the Eastern Cape and even in the taxi industry. He was a down-toearth man. The whole community is shocked by this. The family cannot speculate what happened because we don't know him as a troublesome person,” said Keyi.
“The family cannot speculate what happened because we don’t know him as a troublesome person
SINETHEMBA KEYI Victim’s uncle
Police spokesperson FC van Wyk said the motive for the attack was possibly taxi-violence related.
“Circumstances surrounding a shooting incident (on Wednesday) at about 9.30pm in Sihlanu Avenue, Nyanga Hostels, Nyanga, where a 35year-old man was shot and fatally wounded are under investigation.
“A murder case was opened for investigation. According to reports, the victim opened the gates at his premises, and as he was on his way back to the vehicle, two unknown men approached and fired several shots in his direction. The victim was declared dead on the scene. The suspects are unknown and are yet to be arrested,” said Van Wyk
Last month a 21-year-old taxi driver was shot and killed in Delft, while 52-year-old Goodman Lomboza was killed in Site C.
Provincial transport and public works department spokesperson Jandré Bakker said: “The Department of Transport and Public Works has taken note of the shooting. It condemns taxi violence in all its forms. We are convinced that this is not an entire industry, but a group of criminals within the industry that is placing the whole system at risk. The department is continually engaging industry leadership in order to find solutions to the problem.”
The Cape Amalgamated
Taxi Association and Congress of Democratic Taxi Association spokespersons were not aware of the shooting.