Four heavily-armed alleged taxi industry hitmen commonly known as ‘izinkabi’ were arrested on January 13 along the N3 near the Heidelberg vehicle weighbridge for possession of unlawful firearms.
According to the Germiston Flying Squad corporate communications spokesperson, Sargeant Ntombikayise Ngcobo, the four were on their way to a township in the East Rand to allegedly assassinate a taxi boss.
It is understood that the team, whose names are known to Kathorus MAIL, have been linked to several cases of taxi violence which are still being investigated by the Taxi Violence Unit (TVU).
All four men are under detention pending further investigations by detectives from the TVU.
The four flying squad officers involved were Warrant Officer Kemiso Jonas Kanono, Sergeant Molomisi Phineas, Malahlela and Warrant Officer Nathaniel Lucky Shabalala.
They were on duty on the N3 conducting a crime prevention operation outside Heidelberg when they spotted a grey Toyota Avanza without number plates both on the front and rear travelling east towards Johannesburg.
The officers flagged the vehicle down and the driver was instructed to pull over before the officers searched the vehicle and its four occupants. This is when the firearms were found.
The firearms included a Glock with 15 rounds of ammunition, a CZ70 also with 15 rounds of ammunition, a Norico firearm with seven rounds of ammunition and a Nirico Star with eight rounds of ammunition.
All four occupants, who were travelling from Nqutu to an unknown destination, were subsequently arrested.
After they were interrogated by the police, the four later made a brief appearance at the Heidelberg Magistrate’s Court.
