Two taxi bosses who were travelling in a Toyota Fortuner were attacked by unknown assailants. The incident has left King Sabata Dalindyebo municipal bosses worried.
The dead man has been identified as Aphelele Ngqabayi, 41, a married father of one.
It is believed he was driving with fellow taxi boss Lucky Mbizo, 44, at the time of the attack. Both were members at Mthatha
“According to information, a silver-grey Toyota Fortuner with an Eastern Cape registration was found riddled with bullets.
“It is understood the two victims were sitting in their car on the Highbury bypass. The passenger was killed and the driver was seriously injured and transported to a nearby hospital.”
The victims were believed to be from the Chris Hani informal settlement in Mthatha west.
’s Mamela Taxi Rank.
Tuesday night’s attack took place on the bypass which connects the R61 near Decoligny and the N2 near Northcrest.
Eastern Cape provincial police spokesperson Brigadier Tembinkosi Kinana confirmed police were investigating a case of murder and another of attempted murder.
He said the shooting had occurred shortly before 9pm.
Kinana said the motive for the attack was unknown. No arrests have been made.
Anyone with information should contact the nearest police station or Crime Stop on 086-001-0111.
Ngqabayi’s older brother Gcinizizwe Ngqabayi said he had received a call from a younger brother to rush to the scene on Tuesday night.
“When I got there, I was shown this Toyota Fortuner and told my baby brother was inside.
“I asked to see his face only so I could identify that it was indeed him in the passenger seat, but I couldn’t bring myself to look at his body or how many wounds he had.”
He said they had overheard people on the scene speculating about the incident.
Some claimed the car had been driving along a gravel road from Mpindweni village when it was ambushed by unknown gunmen who had been hiding in the grass along the road.
They opened fire but the driver managed to control the car until they reached the tarred bypass, where it eventually stopped about 20m from a popular butchery and braai place.