BCM taxi boss killed after confronting suspected thief

A prominent Buffalo City Metro taxi boss, Luvuyo Figlan, was shot dead on Sunday evening.

Figlan, 47, who is understood to be a qualified pharmacist, was shot dead in Mdantsane’s NU9, after allegedly confronting a man whom he suspected had stolen copper water pipes at his late mother’s home in the township.

A man tasked with looking after the house had witnessed the alleged theft and subsequent killing of the taxi boss, police said.

It is understood that Figlan, after being informed about the theft and the identity of the suspect, approached him late on Sunday, but a scuffle ensued before the other man managed to grab his firearm and fatally shoot him.

Figlan, of Beacon Bay, owned a large number of taxis and was a prominent industry player in the region.

Police spokesperson Captain Hazel Mqala confirmed the fatal shooting on Monday and said investigations were continuing. No-one had been arrested.

The theft took place just after 9pm on Sunday.

“At approximately 21.15, while sleeping, the eyewitness heard water flowing heavily from the back of the house.

“Upon checking, he noticed that copper pipes were stolen, and he saw the suspect, [who was] known to him, busy processing them in the yard.

“He immediately informed the deceased [Figlan] about the incident and who the suspect was.

“The deceased, who stays in Beacon Bay, came over, and he went with the witness to the suspect and confronted him.

“The suspect denied having stolen the copper pipes, and the deceased then dragged him towards his car, as he was planning to take him to a nearby police station, to report the alleged theft,” Mqala said.

As Figlan further interrogated the suspect, while dragging him towards his vehicle, he pulled him closer to him and tried to headbutt him.

The suspect then managed to grab the taxi boss’s firearm, which was on his waist, before allegedly shooting him once in his upper body.

“He then ran away with the firearm, while still pointing it at them. He fired more shots [in the] air while running.

“The [taxi boss] then got into his vehicle and chased the suspect, while the eyewitness chased on foot.

“He managed to bump the suspect with his vehicle, who fell down but swiftly stood up and ran through a foot path and disappeared into the dark,” Mqala said.

According to the police, when the witness arrived at Figlan’s vehicle, he found him slumped on the steering wheel. Figlan asked him to call an ambulance.

The call to the ambulance hotline was not answered so the witness ran to a nearby house to try find help.

A vehicle arrived to transport Figlan to hospital, but “it was too late as they found him out of his car, lying on the ground, and already dead”. 

A murder case was opened at the nearby NU12 police station

Figlan’s wife, Lulama, could not be reached for comment late on Monday.

Her brother, Mawethu Vazi, said: “It is really bad timing. We are all still in shock [because of] this gruesome and sad incident and at this moment we cannot give any comment.

“This is because we have not even yet sat down as the family to grasp what has happened and map a way forward, so we can only speak when the right time comes.

“All I can I say is that my sister is still too distraught and still struggling to get to terms with what has happened.” 

Border Alliance Taxi Association head Gabs Mtshala, a close friend of Figlan’s said he was aware of the fatal shooting, though details were “still sketchy”.

Mtshala, who confirmed that Figlan was a prominent member of the taxi association he leads, emphasised that the killing was not related to the violence in the province in recent years which had resulted in the assassination of many taxi bosses.

Mtshala said Figlan was a vocal and active member of the taxi association and had owned a fleet of minibuses.

“It is very sad to lose someone of his calibre, especially the way he met his death.

“He played a crucial role in the taxi industry and had contributed in shaping the industry in this part of the world,” Mtshala said.

Daily Dispatch