Taxi boss gunned down

GEORGE NEWS - The Eden cluster police have established a multi-disciplinary team to assist Thembalethu detectives to investigate the murder of a young local taxi owner who was gunned down on Saturday 27 July.

Prince Mmola (32) was shot in the head multiple times while seated inside his Isuzu bakkie at about 09:00 in Liwani Street, Zone 8, Thembalethu.

When the police arrived on the scene, they found Mmola still in a sitting position behind the steering wheel.

According to the Southern Cape police spokesperson, Capt Malcolm Pojie, preliminary investigation reveals that the victim was accosted by an unknown suspect.

"Witness reports suggest that the suspect, who was armed with a handgun, fired multiple shots through the windscreen of the bakkie. He ran away whilst being pursued by bystanders. He then got into a get-away car and sped off. The motive of this horrific act of murder is being investigated," said Pojie.

The police appeal to anyone with information to contact the Thembalethu Police Station on 044 802 8900 or Crime stop on 08600 10111. All information will be dealt with in a confidential manner.

Third taxi-related shooting

This is not the first time that someone from the local taxi industry has been gunned down in Thembalethu. In 2016, Uncedo chairman Wesley Sikhumbuzo Mini was shot multiple times in front of his home in Zone 7. Mini was shot after he came back from a taxi meeting at the Thembalethu taxi rank. No one has been arrested for this murder.

In 2014 a local taxi owner and pastor, Tom Queba, was gunned down inside his taxi on the N2. Zanemali Laho was arrested and sentenced to 20 years imprisonment in the Circuit High Court in 2015 for the murder.

Gunshot marks through the windscreen.

Call for restraint

In a statement the South African Communist Party (SACP) has condemned the brutal murder of Mmola. The party, which is in alliance with the ANC, wrote that the SACP in the Eden district "has learned with great shock and dismay of the cold-blooded killing of Mmola and wishes to extend its deepest and heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and the entire transport community".

It further strongly condemned such acts of violence and called on the authorities to do whatever it takes to bring the perpetrators to book.

"As the party, we wish to make a very strong call on all involved in exercising strongest restraint from making unfounded allegations and speculations on this matter and rather allow the authorities to do their work in this regard. We also wish to request that we all remain level-headed and refrain from making inciting statements that have a potential to incite more violence and result in a more volatile situation that will affect the whole society," said the party's district secretary, Langa Langa.

"We are in support of peaceful means of addressing disagreements of any sort or kind, and further encourage all involved in the transport fraternity to put heads together and endeavour addressing all outstanding, unresolved concerns in the George Municipal area... and refrain from politicising this very sensitive but very necessary service."

Uncedo chairman Welele Mbudede said the organisation is yet to meet to discuss the date and venue of a memorial service for Mmola.

Prince Mmola (32), a local taxi owner, was murdered in broad daylight in full view of witnesses.