The second taxi violence related killing took place opposite the Dal Josaphat Stadium on Saturday (10 June), hardly a week after a prominent taxi boss, Siyabulela Mandyoli (52), was gunned down in another incident in Mbekweni on Tuesday (6 June).
The incident was confirmed by Paarl East police Station Commander, Colonel Wellington Stephans. He said: “On 10 June at 08:45, the complainant attended shooting incident on Jan van Riebeeck Road opposite Dal Josaphat Stadium.”
He added that police members were informed of the incident via radio about a person who has been shot and was still sitting in his vehicle on Jan van Riebeeck Road.
“The complainant found a deceased person with a gunshot wound to the head. According to witnesses, the victim was pulled over on the road by another vehicle when four unknown men approached the victim’s vehicle.”
At first observation, the victim was found with only one gunshot wound to the head and was declared dead the on scene, Stephans pointed out.
“He is estimated to be about 45-years-old. The motive is suspected be in relation to long ongoing taxi conflict regarding the Paarl-Belliville Route, B97 between Cata and Codeta,” the Colonel concluded.
This incident is believed to be related to the killing of Mandyoni in A Block, Phokeng Street, a few days before.
The Western Cape Minister of Mobility, Ricardo Mackenzie, too was bereaved about the prominent taxi boss’ killing when he confirmed that the chairperson of Paarl Alliance Taxi Association (PATA), Siyabulela Wilberforce Mandyoli, was shot and killed at his house in Mbekweni.
Pata is affiliated to the Codeta region of the South African National Taxi Council.
“We are deeply saddened by this ruthless crime, and strongly condemn any form of violence within the public transport industry. Our Western Cape Mobility Department is supporting the investigation by the SAPS, with senior officials participating in an urgent briefing on the matter this morning.
“They will also meet with the industry leadership over the next couple of days to assess the situation and establish the relevant facts,” Mackenzie said.
This is a developing news story. To keep up to date on taxi violence related updates, get your copy of the next Paarl Post issue.
