KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison, Mr Willies Mchunu, has called for calm in the taxi industry following this week’s killing of a taxi operator who was gunned down at Ngwelezane, in eMpangeni.
Reports reveal that on Tuesday (25 June 2013) Muziwendoda Mthembu was gunned down by unknown assailants. He was found with numerous close range gun wounds. In the recent weeks there has been a spate of taxi related incidents where numerous taxi operators were gunned down. However, Mchunu has assured the community that these incidents are isolated and pose no threat of instability in the industry.
He, however, condemned those behind the killing of Mthembu, saying the evidence showed that this was the work of merciless killers who sought to destabilize this most important industry.
“Firstly I would like to assure the community that this is an isolated incident and does not pose any threat within the taxi industry. But it is always disappointing to hear about the death of another taxi operator. At this stage the motive of the killing has not been established. We cannot conclude that this is related to a taxi feud. I would like to appeal to the community to work with the police in finding the perpetrators. I would like to send my deepest condolences to the Mthembu family,” said Mchunu.
For more information contact:
Kwanele Ncalane
Cell: 072 803 1462 or 079 699 5755
