Taxi boss knew he was going to be killed
Men with assault rifles pumped bullets into him
The taxi industry bosses are fighting over routes and Siya was a very vocal person who stood for truth and was influential
An East London taxi boss was gunned down outside his home on Wednesday night in what his family suspect was a targeted hit by rival operators.
Border Alliance taxi association member Siyabonga Tungu, 27, was shot six times by gunmen armed with assault rifles at a block of flats in Belgravia.
Tungu was shot in the complex’s parking area moments after stepping out of his vehicle.
The killing was described by his distraught life partner as a “hit related to the taxi war”.
Only two months ago, she said, Tungu was lucky to escape with his life when he was shot at about 15 times on the Gulu bridge on the R72 near Kidd’s Beach. His Quantum minibus was riddled with bullet holes.
But at 9pm on Wednesday his life ended in a hail of bullets at the Own Haven block of flats.
At the scene, more than 400 horrified people, mostly in their pyjamas, gathered to look at Tungu’s lifeless body.
Police officers, including East London police station commander Brig Mxolisi Mqontyana, worked the scene for evidence.
Tungu’s tearful partner and his teenage stepdaughter had their arms tightly wrapped around each other.
His partner asked not to be named.
“He had been warning us that his life was in danger and that the people who attempted to kill him last time were still after him. We expected this to happen but not so soon,” she said.
“The taxi industry bosses are fighting over routes and Siya was a very vocal person who stood for truth and was influential.”
Witnesses told the Dispatch two men armed with assault rifles pumped six shots into Tungu’s head at close range before speeding off in a Suzuki Swift.
However, police said a witness had indicated that three men were involved in the attack and that Tungu was shot in the body. The complex’s guards dived for cover as gunshots rang out, several witnesses told the Dispatch.
Police spokesperson Brig Thembinkosi Kinana said the East London organised crime unit had opened a murder docket and was investigating.
Kinana said police who were patrolling nearby in Oxford Street rushed to the scene.
“On their arrival the security guard came running to the officers and informed them that three men armed with rifles fired at one man and escaped from the crime scene in a silver Suzuki vehicle with no number plates,” he said.
Kinana said Tungu had several gunshot wounds to the body.
He said anyone with information that could lead to the arrest of the suspects should call the investigating officer, Warrant Officer Gcobani Maqhubela,
on 071-608-1475.
All information would be treated confidentially, he said.
South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) provincial chair Lungiswa Mabija learnt of the killing through the Dispatch.
She did not believe it was related to the taxi industry.
“I doubt it has something to do with taxi violence. No association reported anything regarding any taxi violence.
“But let me send my deepest condolences to the family of the deceased. Santaco will investigate this and offer our support where needed. The law must take its course.”
Mabija said she would inform other committee members of Tungu’s death at a provincial committee meeting under way in Mthatha.
Border Alliance national secretary and Santaco provincial secretary Vusumzi Mbewu, who was with Mabija at the meeting, said he had also not been informed about the killing and was not in a position to comment until details had been confirmed.
On Thursday, a resident of the apartment block told the Dispatch that tenants were angry that such an incident had been allowed to happen.
A decision had been taken to replace the complex’s remote gates with boom gates and unarmed guards, and residents believe this is what allowed the gunmen to enter the property easily, the woman said.
The Own Haven offices were closed when the Dispatch visited at 3pm on Thursday.
But later Own Haven MD Andrew Wiseman slammed tenants as “opportunistic and highly disrespectful“, and accused them of using Tungu’s murder as a platform to gain audience.
“They blockaded our gates and prevented 400 tenants from going to work and children from going to school,” he said. “Own Haven is deeply shocked and would like to send its condolences to the family of the deceased. From what we have gathered the shooting was a well-organised hit related to taxi violence. It could have happened anywhere.”
He denied allegations of lax security and said tenants had never raised security concerns until the shooting incident.
● Last week Wednesday a 47year-old man was shot and killed in Mdantsane.
The deceased was a popular owner of sedan taxis, known as
amaphela. The passenger got out with a rifle and fired several shots, hitting the deceased on his upper body.
He was allegedly shot by occupants of a white MercedesBenz before it sped off.