Cape Town law enforcement officials are on high alert, in anticipation of a taxi war, after a high-ranking official in the industry was executed, on Tuesday.
Boss’ death sparks fears of a Cape Town taxi war
As reported by Daily Voice, the body of Mzoxolo Dibela, CODETA’s secretary and deputy chairperson at SANTACO, was dumped on the sand dunes of Monwabisi Beach by unknown gunmen.
According to police, the taxi boss had returned from an Eastern Cape trip a short while before he was viciously killed.
Warrant Officer Joseph Swartbooi further revealed that a single gunshot to the head was what killed Dibela, a man described as “a firm leader who showed dedication to changing the image of the minibus taxi industry.”
Trace evidence found on the scene has undergone testing but this has brought investigators nowhere close to determining the identities of the persons involved in the murder.
What is the motive behind Mzoxolo Dibela’s murder?
From what we understand, homicide detectives working the case are focusing on existing tensions in the taxi industry as a starting point of the investigation, since robbery was stricken off as a possible motive.
Dibela’s car was nowhere to be found but he had other valuables, like his cellphone and cash, in his possession when his body was found at the beachfront situated on Baden Powell Drive.
“The motive for the attack is taxi-related,” officer Swartbooi confirmed.
Reacting to the news, the Western Cape’s transport MEC Daylin Mitchell offered his condolences to Dibela’s family, revealing that the taxi boss was a crucial participant in “efforts to end the taxi violence between CATA and CODETA.”
This clue could prove a Cape Town taxi war is brewing
Another clue that could lend investigators a solid lead in determining the motive came from MMC for transport Rob Quintas who, in a statement, revealed that Dibela was expected to participate as a senior delegate in approving “the resumption of the MyCiTi N2 Express service between Mitchells Plain and Khayelitsha and the Cape Town CBD.”
“The operating contract with the N2 Company was to be signed this week,” Quintas added
The Cape Town taxi bosses have downplayed rumours of a brewing war and sources within the sector claim Dibela’s death was not industry-related.
SAPS, however, begs to differ.
Investigations are ongoing.
