Father gunned down while dropping children at Eastern Cape school

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Frightened, screaming pupils being dropped off at school had to scatter and run for cover on Wednesday as two gunmen sprayed bullets, killing a father who had just brought his two children for classes.

Some of the Ugie High School pupils who witnessed the incident said the victim had been shot in the head three times.

They said they had seen two men, one carrying a handgun and the other with a rifle, alight from a white Nissan Navara double cab which had driven towards the school as the victim’s children were climbing out of their black Isuzu bakkie.

The victim was later identified as well-known taxi operator Phelo Nxangashe, 45.

The incident shocked the residents of the small Eastern Cape town at the southern foot of the Drakensberg.

Questions were sent to the Eastern Cape police about  the incident, but no responses had been received at the time of writing on Wednesday.

A 14-year-old grade 8 pupil said he had been standing only a few metres away when he heard gunshots.

“It was two men. They were in a car. Two came out with guns and two remained in the car.

“They went to his [Nxangashe’s] car and shot him in the head ... I ran away.”

He said Nxangashe’s 11-year-old daughter had already left the vehicle, but her little brother, 7,  had been climbing out the bakkie when his father was attacked.

“He climbed out of the car, screaming, and a teacher came and took him away,” the witness said.

Both children were unharmed.

Other pupils who were walking towards the school gates said they had rushed for cover when they heard the gunshots.

They said they were traumatised by the incident.

A post written by principal Kota Bruwer and addressed to parents and guardians on the school’s Facebook page on Wednesday read: “Thank you for your prompt response this morning to collect your learners from school.

“I realise that many learners are severely traumatised.

“We have contacted the social services in Ugie as well as the department of education to come and assist us tomorrow [Thursday] and Friday with trauma counselling for the learners and teachers.

“We will be conducting normal classes tomorrow and ask parents to send their learners to school if you feel comfortable in doing so.”

Nxangashe’s older brother, Lulamile, said the family was distraught over his brother’s death.

He said his brother had been shot four times.

“Four empty cartridges were found, three from a 9mm and one from a rifle,” he said.

Border Alliance Taxi Association president Songezo Mpanda condemned the incident, but called for calm and cool heads.

He said he was extremely shocked to learn of the brutal murder of one of their members, who he said had been committed to peace.

“The area of Ugie and Nqanqarhu is one of the most peaceful areas in the Eastern Cape.

“He [Nxangashe] was one of the members who was assisting us in creating peace and stability in many routes in the province,” Mpanda said.

He said Nxangashe had been a member of the Ugie/Nqanqarhu Taxi Association.

Mpanda said he was planning to have an urgent meeting with taxi leaders in the area.

Elundini municipality Ward 2 councillor Pumza Cawe said the community was still shocked and rattled after the incident.

She confirmed that the victim was a known taxi owner.

“We’ve never witnessed something like this in the town. It must never happen again,” she said. 

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