Carletonville: Manhunt after murder of taxi boss
Two people were murdered as part of the ongoing violence related to the minibus taxi industry in the Carletonville and Khutsong area this week.
The ongoing trouble in the local minibus taxi industry continues as the chairperson of the largest taxi association in the area was gunned down.
As far as could be determined, the chairman of the Carletonville United Taxi Association (CUTA), Busangani Petros Sibusiso Nhlabathi (58), was driving with his wife to attend a church service in Sandton on Sunday morning.
As they were driving through Florida they were ambushed.
“The deceased was driving with his wife when they were shot at by suspects who were driving in a white vehicle. The deceased sustained several gunshot injuries while his wife was grazed by a bullet,” says Gauteng SAPS spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo.
According to Masondo, the police suspect that the issue is related to taxi violence.
Nhlabathi rose to the head of CUTA after a previous chairperson, Tshele David Tholwana, was murdered at Simunye, between Bekkersdal and Westonaria, in September 2021. Tholwana had also been shot and his murderers have still not been apprehended.
During the past three years more than 10 other people in the Carletonville area’s taxi industry had also been killed.
CUTA is the largest taxi association in the greater Carletonville and Khutsong area.
According to Masondo, the police have launched a manhunt for Nhlabathi’s killers.
Taxi driver runs to escape bullets
In another incident, a CUTA member was driving his Toyota Quantum minibus taxi from Carletonville on the Welverdiend road on the night of September 12.
As he drove onto the off-ramp toward Khutsong on the bridge at Ext 5, another vehicle apparently drove up to them. The people in this vehicle started shooting at the taxi.
The taxi driver jumped out and started running to safety. Although he was hit by a bullet, he managed to escape. One of the other people inside the taxi, Akhona Makhonza, (34) was killed. Another female passenger was also hit.
Both were taken to Carletonville Hospital and are still in a critical condition.
Empty cartridges coming from a rifle and a 9mm pistol were recovered at the scene.
“Police are appealing to anyone who might have information that can help the investigation or assist in the apprehension of the suspects, to call the nearest police station or crime stop at 086 00 10 111,” says Masondo.
Also read:
https://www.citizen.co.za/carletonville-herhald/news/2021/09/09/taxi-violence-reaches-new-levels/
https://www.citizen.co.za/carletonville-herhald/news/2022/03/03/taxi-killers-strike-again/
https://www.citizen.co.za/carletonville-herhald/news/2021/11/02/another-taxi-owner-gunned-down/
