Communities express mixed emotions about Mshengu’s murder

People of the Lowveld shared mixed emotions over his death.

Taxi operators working along the White River/Hazyview route said they would remember Mabuza’s last moments of splashing out money along the R537 opposite the Mganduzweni Taxi Rank.

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“Hey, that man was a boss. He was generous and owned money. He recently splashed out money here and many of the boys operating an informal car wash collected as much as they could of that cash. Due to my age, I thought I would be putting myself at risk of being knocked down by moving vehicles, so I didn’t cross to the other side of the road to collect some money for myself. My colleagues did and were happy,” said one of the taxi drivers.

He added that on the day of the incident, he had to comfort numerous passengers, especially older women who literally cried because they feared they might lose their jobs.

“I drove two women from White River to Masoyi who were crying. They said they were both working at Mabuza’s home,” lamented the driver. Some revealed how Mshengu would help the poor in his community by buying clothes and groceries and even helping them start businesses, especially in the taxi industry.

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Some said he had built them houses. “He was a kind criminal, a mastermind who never drank expensive wines and whisky. He shared his wealth with those in need,” said another.

Mpumalanga News heard how he had helped many taxi operators to buy new taxis. “He was approachable and would buy the taxi you wanted, but you would pay him back for the rest of your life,” he added.

The newspaper learned how he would tip petrol attendants whenever he was filling up at garages around White River.

“It was a sad moment to see paramedics declaring him dead near a garage in White River while his family were rushing him to hospital just after he had been shot in Hazyview,” he said.

This publication was informed how SAPS officials would fight to attend to his case whenever he entered a police station, because he would thank whoever assisted him with nothing less than R2 500. While some praised him for being the coolest criminal, many others received the news of his passing with much relief.

“I don’t know how many orphans we have had because of him. How many young people are into crime because of this man, a pathetic cruel criminal who killed all those who stood in his way,” they said.

On Facebook, many readers said his death had done South African wildlife a huge favour. One of them wrote, “Rest in pieces and join our brothers who were brutally murdered by rhino poachers. May the spirit of them shower yours with blood of tears,” read one of the posts.

Mshengu was shot execution-style while sitting in his Ford Ranger double cab bakkie under his famous tree in Hazyview.

A group of about three armed suspects, who were driving in a black Volkswagen Polo, fired several shots at him and then fled the scene.

The acting provincial commissioner of the police in Mpumalanga, Maj Gen Thulani Phahla, has strongly condemned the incident and called for the swift arrest of the suspects. “No one has a right to take another person’s life regardless of the reasons. We are optimistic that members of the community will share information with the police so that the perpetrators can be brought to book,” said Phahla.