Three suspects have been arrested in connection to murders related to taxi violence in the Eastern Cape. The arrests were made by a special task team, with two suspects apprehended at the Mall of Africa in Midrand, Gauteng. The dramatic arrest was captured on video and shared on social media, leading to the questioning of four other suspects by the South African Police Service (Saps).
In a statement, national police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe confirmed that a third suspect was nabbed the following day. The police have seized four pistols and an AK47 from the suspects, which are currently undergoing ballistics testing to determine their connection to the murders and other violent crimes.
The suspects are believed to be involved in a series of murders linked to taxi industry violence in East London, occurring between November 2023 and August 2024. The victims include two taxi owners, a taxi driver, and a member of a taxi association, all of whom were shot and killed.
Meanwhile, in a separate case, an alleged hitman linked to the murder of a Richards Bay Minerals (RBM) mine contractor has been arrested. Halalisani Nchunu was apprehended in Gauteng and found in possession of a 9mm pistol and three AK47 rifles, one of which has been linked to the murder of businessman Sipho Zwelethemba Masuku.
Masuku was fatally shot in his Toyota Fortuner in Richards Bay, KwaZulu-Natal, with a passenger in the vehicle also sustaining injuries. Nchunu has appeared in court facing charges of murder, attempted murder, and possession of unlicensed firearms. The police task team is actively pursuing other suspects believed to be involved in the assassination.
Both cases highlight the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to combat violent crimes and bring perpetrators to justice. The investigations are ongoing, and the police are determined to uncover the full extent of the criminal activities in both cases.
