GEORGE NEWS - A 9mm-bullet in an envelope with a note reading "Jy wil nie ophou met die k*k, jy is tweede" (You don't want to stop with this sh*t, you will be next) greeted Cornelius Esau when he opened his front door last Friday morning 7 July.
Esau, who was the spokesperson for the George Uncedo Taxi Association until the end of March, said he went stone cold when he opened the envelope. He now fears for his family's safety. "I have a suspicion who might be behind this. I want to tell the people so that if I am shot, they know what I died for."
Capt Malcom Pojie, Southern Cape Police spokesperson, confirmed that the police is investigating a case of intimidation.
Pojie said members of the Criminal Record Centre (LCRC) were on the scene and collected the envelope and bullet, but Pojie did not want to confirm the exact wording on the note. The evidence has been sent away for forensic tests and analysis.
This is not the first death threat Esau has received. In mid-2016, Sikhumbuzo Mini (52), a local taxi owner and chairman of the Uncedo Service Taxi Association George, and Esau both received death threats.
It was reported to the police and the investigation is still ongoing. On Monday 1 November 2016, Mini again received a death threat. Two days later, on Thursday 3 November 2016, Mini was gunned down outside his house on returning from a meeting at the Thembalethu taxi rank. It is alleged that he was shot 18 times.
Esau was the last person with Mini before he was killed.
In response to a question if the latest threat and those made against Esau and Mini last year are connected, Pojie said it is difficult to determine if the incidents are related but that they are investigating all possibilities.
Sgt Clive Pypers is investigating the Mini murder and the intimidation cases.
Anyone with information can contact him on 044 803 4583 or 073 577 1998.
Three weeks ago Esau lodged a complaint at the Competition Commission in Pretoria objecting to GO GEORGE being granted the sole right to run the public transport system in George. "Taxis must be allowed to compete against the buses and passengers can then decide if they want to use a bus or a taxi. It is our right to earn a living," he said.
ARTICLE: MYRON RABINOWITZ, GEORGE HERALD JOURNALIST
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