A TAXI driver was killed during a shootout in Benares Road in Botha’s Hill around 7pm on Thursday, 26 May.
According to Cst Ndumiso Manqele, spokesman for the Hillcrest SAPS, Hillcrest police officers responded to a shooting incident in Embo near Zondela Store. Upon arrival they interviewed the friend of the deceased to find out what happened.
“It is alleged that the deceased was driving a white Toyota Hi-Ace taxi, which is normally driven by his friend, who was also present when the shooting began. They were coming from Pinetown to Embo. They delivered the passengers accordingly and the last two passengers said they would jump out at Zondela Store. One passenger was sitting in the front between him and his friend and the other passenger was sitting behind him.
“When the friend jumped out to open up the door, the passenger who was sitting behind the driver started firing at the driver and the friend ran away into the nearby bushes while the two passengers fled the scene on foot,” said Manqele.
Russel Meiring, ER24 spokesman said paramedics, along with other services, arrived on the scene to find a heavy police presence. “On inspection, paramedics found the lifeless body of a man lying in the driver’s seat of a taxi. ER24 paramedics assessed the man and found that he had already succumbed to his multiple gunshot wounds,” said Meiring.
The deceased was identified as Mlungisi Shozi (27). A case of murder was opened at the Hillcrest police station. No arrests have been made and the motive of the killing is unknown at this stage.
