Mystery of boy, 2, at murder site Bus owner gunned down in ‘a hit’
ATODDLER was found crying at the scene of the murder of a prominent Eastern Cape bus owner, who was gunned down in what was believed to be a hit.
Michael Vani was shot multiple times in a bushy area in Mdingi village near King William’s Town on Wednesday. Mdingi is the home village of former Proteas cricket star Makhaya Ntini.
The 57-year-old man’s bloodied body was found lying face down next to his silver grey Isuzu bakkie. He had been shot in the head twice, once in the arm and once in the stomach.
In the passenger seat of the vehicle was a wailing two-year-old boy. Locals spotted the lights and called the police.
It was initially believed the toddler was the slain man’s son, but Vani’s wife, Thozama, said she had no idea who the child was. The boy has since been taken to a place of safety.
The killing is believed to be linked to ongoing rivalry over leadership in the bus transport industry in the Eastern Cape.
Vani was one of the executive members of the Eastern Cape Bus Council and his death comes five months after one of his colleagues in the bus council, Bixie Mkutu, was shot and left wounded while driving around King William’s Town.
Thozama said her husband had received a number of death threats.
“I can safely say his death is linked to the bus infighting,” she said.
“Mkutu was very close to my husband and he was shot in July. Actually, my husband the fourth person from the bus business to have been shot here.
“Two, including my husband, have died while two, including Mkutu, have survived these assassinations.”
Asked about the child found in her husband’s bakkie, Thozama said: “We don’t know this mystery child. Why was that child there in the first place? Where’s his mother?”
King police spokeswoman Captain Siphokazi Mawisa said police were investigating murder.
“Police were summoned to the scene at about 8pm and on arrival, they found his body next to the car and a two-yearold child. The child was unharmed and taken to a place of safety.”
Thozama said she received a call from her husband on Wednesday afternoon that he would come home late as they were loading the last bus at the rank.
“I was surprised when he didn’t make it home on time. After 8pm, my neighbour called me to their home.”
When she arrived at the neighbour’s house, police were there and they broke the news to her.
“I was shocked. They told me his vehicle was found in the bushy area near Mdingi with its headlights on.”
Vani’s cousin Mncedisi Hobongwana said he heard about the shooting at the bus rank.
“People were talking about this at the top of their voices, it was like they were celebrating his death. I am appalled by what they were saying about him,” Hobongwana said.
Mkutu, who is currently in hiding, said Vani was close to him.
“I left everything to him to run for me after I was shot in King. I think the people who killed him, were following me. These are more signs that they want me dead,” a furious Mkutu said.
“I am in this place until I recover. I went for my last surgical operation last month. The people who are doing this, are known.”
The killing comes at a time when the taxi industry is facing challenges. Close to 10 taxi operators between East London and Mthatha have lost their lives in hits linked to taxi violence this year alone. —