Taxi boss gunned down outside East London home

A case of murder has been opened by the East London police after Sinethemba Dyani, a member of the Border Alliance Taxi Association (Bata), was shot 13 times outside his East London home in the early hours of Saturday. 

The 40-year-old man was leaving his house at 4.30am for the Qonce (formerly King William’s Town) taxi rank, when his Toyota Quantum came under fire outside his Santa township house. 

This is the second taxi violence-related incident in the Eastern Cape in less than a week. 

Last week on Thursday, Uncedo taxi association chair Diki Zamani was gunned down in broad daylight in Gqeberha. 

Brigadier Tembinkosi Kinana said Dyani’s wife had heard gunshots outside the house just after he had locked the gate to leave. 

“Upon checking she found out that her husband had gunshot wounds and was lying facing down inside the Quantum.

“The [Toyota] Quantum windows had several bullet holes. According to the deceased’s wife, she did not see any suspects leaving the area nor people shooting at the deceased,” Kinana said. 

He said paramedics arrived and certified him dead on the scene.

“The body was removed by pathology services. A case of murder has been opened and an investigation is under way. No arrest has been made at this stage,” Kinana said. 

Bata president Songezo Mpanda said the association was shocked by the incident, as the taxi industry had been calling for peace. He strongly condemned the killing. 

“It is not right to kill and take someone’s life. This is unacceptable. As the taxi industry we have had discussions to emphasise that it is wrong and criminal to shoot each other.

“We plead with taxi owners and drivers to have a level of understanding when dealing with the business,” Mpanda said. 

“Our heartfelt condolences go to Mr Dyani's family. We are also pleading with the community to report anything that could lead to the arrest of the shooter or shooters.

“The matter is being investigated by the police and as the association we will assist where we can to make sure justice prevails,” Mpanda said. 

He said the association did not know what the motive behind the murder was. 

A police source told DispatchLIVE on Sunday the victim’s body was riddled with bullets.

He said when paramedics arrived at the scene, police cordoned off the area and found 13 empty 9mm cartridges as well as a live round. 

East London Taxi Association (Elta) secretary Xolile Ngwendu was shocked when DispatchLIVE asked about the shooting.

“It is my first time hearing about this, as we are only based in East London. We do not associate ourselves with any taxi violence, as we believe in unity and peace.

“We cannot be fighting against looting which is a criminal offence, but incite crime within the association.”

During an event in Gonubie on Sunday, where the taxi industry was thanked by officials for the work they did in preventing looting in the city, Elta members, who had not yet heard of the murder, tried to find out from their colleagues who the victim of the shooting was.

“We are pleading with commuters to be vigilant and to rather use taxis that are registered within any taxi association, as taxi violence occurs as a result of competition for passengers,” Ngwendu said. 

Transport MEC Weziwe Tikana-Gxothiwe, who led a delegation to the Gonubie event, said she believed the East London incident involving the taxi member was due to gun violence rather than taxi violence. 

“I have not yet received a report about the incident that took place in Santa, but I believe the police have it under investigation, and they are still busy with the unfortunate incident that took place in Gqeberha,” she said. 

“Our crime intelligence is working on the two incidents. The police are investigating the main cause of these two incidents.

“So far, according to my view, it is not taxi violence, but we are pleading with the taxi industry and commuters to be vigilant, and to report anything suspicious.”

Kinana said anyone with information that could lead to the arrest of the suspects should contact the nearest police station or call the crime stop number on 08600-10111. 

DispatchLIVE