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The vehicle that was torched outside Maponya Mall in Soweto
The KwaZulu-Natal E-hailing Council says it is unacceptable that the killers of Mthokozisi Mvelase have not been arrested.
Its chairperson Sipho Mabika addressed mourners at Mvelase’s funeral in Ulundi in northern KwaZulu-Natal.
The 27-year-old driver was shot and burnt inside his car at Maponya Mall in Soweto three weeks ago.
It’s believed he was killed by taxi operators who objected to the presence of e-hailing vehicles at the mall.
Mourners, friends and family members attended the funeral service.
Mabika says they have lost faith in the police.
He has urged the taxi industry to come forward with information that can lead to the arrest of the perpetrators.
“Even now we haven’t heard anything about the killers of Mvelase, and there are cameras all over at Maponya Mall. Another thing is that members of the industry must come forward and tell the police what happened,” adds Mabika.
“It may happen that Mvelase panicked when he was approached by the killers, we don’t know. It will be painful to find that a person who killed Mvelase comes from KZN.”
The Mvelase family described the passing of Mthokozisi as a great loss.
His uncle Doctor Khuzwayo says his nephew was a respectful young man, who was committed to his work.
“He was a respectful person and he did not forget his mother and he always shared the little he had with his mother. He was not addicted to drugs and alcohol and he was respectful child.”
The family wants Mvelase’s killers to be brought to book.
“We want to receive reports from the investigating officers or the commissioner of police from Gauteng. We need an update and we want to know what is going on about the murder of our son.”
Clashes between taxi operators and e-hailing drivers have taken place in a number of major cities around the country in the past few years.
E-hailing operators say the delay in introducing regulations in their industry will only make matters worse.
Transport Minister Barbara Creecy is expected to gazette the e-hailing regulations within a month.
VIDEO | Family of murdered Mthokozisi Mvelase pleads for help:
