Manhunt launched following the killing of a taxi operator

Famously known as Press Shukela, Shabangu was shot and killed last Friday at Entokozweni, next to the ZCC church.

Traffic came to a standstill last Wednesday morning as angry taxi operators in Mpumalanga barricaded the entrance and exit points to some of the biggest townships in the province, including KaNyamazane, Tekwane South and North, and Pienaar.

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The taxi operators accused the police of moving at a snail’s pace in their investigation. The MEC for community safety, security and liaison, Vusi Shongwe, managed to convince the taxi operators to open the roads. While speaking to them he said “Ngiyanicela, bafowethu (I am pleading with you, my fellow brother), let us talk about this matter without affecting the commuters’ daily schedule.

“There are accusations that the police are not doing their work. When they do their investigation process they do not reveal this to the public. This is due to the guidelines of investigating a case. As the department and SAPS we are concerned that some of the community members were not able to get to work due to the protest.”

A provincial police spokesperson, Donald Mdhluli, said, “There were some reports indicating that the protest emanates from the incident of murder and attempted murder where a taxi driver was unfortunately fatally shot on September 24, while another man sustained gunshot wounds. The case was opened accordingly and police immediately launched a manhunt for suspects following the said incident.

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“No one has been arrested as yet and the SAPS members at KaNyamazane urge anyone with information on the whereabouts of the suspects to call the Crime Stop number on 08600 10111, or send information via the My SAPS app. All received information will be treated as confidential and callers may opt to remain anonymous.”

The provincial commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lt Gen Semakaleng Manamela, has pleaded with the community to work with the police in ensuring that the suspects are brought to book by providing information that will lead to their arrest. Shabangu was laid to rest at Rocky Drift on Sunday.

Top Star Taxi Association’s chairperson, John Mavundla, said, “We are pleading with the suspects to hand themselves over to the police. This is to avoid another protest and road closure. The suspects need to be aware that it does not matter where they run to. In every area there are taxi operators so it is possible to find them. This is because we heard that they ran away to another town.

During Shabangu’s funeral service we agreed that we will work with the community and police to get these suspects behind bars. If we do not work together these criminals might end up taking over our communities and we do not want that.”

Mavundla added that he was proud that the taxi operators allowed the funeral service to proceed without any interruptions.