Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Vincent Cruywagen
Published on 2024-02-26 21:37:37
A tragic incident occurred in Nyanga where a police officer who was set to testify at the trial of a prominent Cape Town taxi boss, Bonke Makalala, was killed in what seems to be a targeted attack. The officer was one of two individuals who lost their lives near Masemola and Myesa streets in Masiphumelele on Kommetjie Road around 6 pm on Sunday, 25 February.
Police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Malcom Pojie confirmed the officer’s identity as one of the victims, although the motive behind the shooting remains unclear. The case is currently under investigation by the Hawks.
According to a source close to the investigation, the slain officer, stationed at Nyanga Police Station, was supposed to provide testimony against Bonke Makalala at his trial. However, Western Cape Hawks spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Siyabulela Vukubi stated that the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation was not aware of the deceased officer being a witness in any court matter related to taxi boss Bonke Makalala. Vukubi suggested contacting the SAPS Provincial Organised Crime division for further information.
Masiphumelele is currently a focal point of investigation by the provincial Taxi Task Unit’s Combat Team, especially in relation to taxi-related murders. In a separate but related incident, a suspect was arrested for a triple murder in Khayelitsha in December 2022, as well as a murder in Masiphumelele in June 2023 and a house robbery in Ocean View suburb.
Bonke Makalala, a wanted taxi boss linked to various criminal activities, was apprehended in the affluent Pretoria suburb of Silver Lakes in December 2023. He is a member of the Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association and faces multiple charges dating back to 2018, including murder and attempted murder.
Other police cases have been opened against Makalala, including one for impersonating a police officer after being caught on video driving a police vehicle. Additionally, two police officers from Nyanga Police Station have been implicated in allowing Makalala unauthorized use of a state vehicle.
The involvement of Makalala in criminal activities related to taxi violence was highlighted in the fourth quarter crime statistics released by Police Minister Bheki Cele in February. Makalala was specifically mentioned in a section concerning the “Construction Mafia.”
Makalala’s recent bail application in the Wynberg Magistrates’ Court was met with serious allegations of attempted bribery while in custody in Malmesbury. The case was adjourned as both the defense and the state claimed to have new evidence to present.
This series of events underscores the complex and dangerous dynamics at play within the Cape Town taxi industry, with individuals like Bonke Makalala being at the center of ongoing criminal investigations and legal proceedings. The loss of the police officer in Nyanga serves as a grim reminder of the risks faced by those involved in the pursuit of justice in the midst of organized crime networks.
Read the original article on Daily Maverick
