Deputy chairman of the Eastern Cape Bus Council Bixie Mkutu escaped with his life when he was shot six times outside his King William’s Town home on Sunday night.
He is recovering at an undisclosed location with gunshot wounds to the thigh, arm and back.
He was shot by two unidentified gunmen shortly before 8pm while leaving his home at the corner of Grey and Cambridge Streets.
He counted about eight shots. Eastern Cape Hawks spokeswoman Captain Anelisa Feni said the shooting was being investigated by members of the Organised Crime Unit.
No one has been arrested in connection with the shooting.
Speaking from his bed yesterday, Mkutu said: “Those who did this to me must give answers as to why they did it because a wounded tiger is very dangerous. I have ruled out the taxi industry on my hit. This was done by people in the bus industry.”
Mkutu said he was leaving home in his brand new Range Rover with registration plate “BIG GUY:EC” when he spotted two shadows in the dark.
“They shot at me simultaneously. My biggest mistake was to wait and see which direction the bullets were coming from. I could have escaped with less injuries.”
He said the hit had been well planned as the municipality was busy with roadworks in his street.
“The road ahead is currently closed with cement blocks; the shooters knew there was nowhere for me run,” said Mkutu.
However, during the hail of bullets, Mkutu managed to drive over a pavement to make a U-turn but lost control of the vehicle and crashed into the door of the nearby Criterion Supermarket.
“The crash triggered the shop’s alarm and I saw the two guys running away,” he said, adding the alarm had saved his life.
Red Alert, which is contracted to the supermarket, arrived on the scene and called the police.
Supermarket owner Pedro de Abrey confirmed the crash yesterday, saying it had left him with a bill of R12000 to fix the door.
Mkutu said he was not aware that his life was in danger.
“For me Sunday started like any other day. I went to my church to show them my brand new car and then later went to East London for the Uncedo Taxi Service prayer gathering with MEC of transport Weziwe Tikana,” Mkutu said.
He had offered his message of support and left East London.
“Since my shooting the taxi operators have been very supportive hence I say they did not do this,” Mkutu said.
He suspected his shooting relates to a May shooting incident in Zwelitsha where a bus owner was killed.
“The talk of the town is that I had something to do with his death. I thought it was going to pass – for me it was just an innocent rumour. My shooters found me unprepared on Sunday as I did not up my security because I am innocent,” Mkutu said. — zwangam@dispatch.co.za
Businessman survives bullets
He is recovering at an undisclosed location with gunshot wounds to the thigh, arm and back.
He was shot by two unidentified gunmen shortly before 8pm while leaving his home at the corner of Grey and Cambridge Streets.
He counted about eight shots. Eastern Cape Hawks spokeswoman Captain Anelisa Feni said the shooting was being investigated by members of the Organised Crime Unit.
No one has been arrested in connection with the shooting.
Speaking from his bed yesterday, Mkutu said: “Those who did this to me must give answers as to why they did it because a wounded tiger is very dangerous. I have ruled out the taxi industry on my hit. This was done by people in the bus industry.”
Mkutu said he was leaving home in his brand new Range Rover with registration plate “BIG GUY:EC” when he spotted two shadows in the dark.
“They shot at me simultaneously. My biggest mistake was to wait and see which direction the bullets were coming from. I could have escaped with less injuries.”
He said the hit had been well planned as the municipality was busy with roadworks in his street.
“The road ahead is currently closed with cement blocks; the shooters knew there was nowhere for me run,” said Mkutu.
However, during the hail of bullets, Mkutu managed to drive over a pavement to make a U-turn but lost control of the vehicle and crashed into the door of the nearby Criterion Supermarket.
“The crash triggered the shop’s alarm and I saw the two guys running away,” he said, adding the alarm had saved his life.
Red Alert, which is contracted to the supermarket, arrived on the scene and called the police.
Supermarket owner Pedro de Abrey confirmed the crash yesterday, saying it had left him with a bill of R12000 to fix the door.
Mkutu said he was not aware that his life was in danger.
“For me Sunday started like any other day. I went to my church to show them my brand new car and then later went to East London for the Uncedo Taxi Service prayer gathering with MEC of transport Weziwe Tikana,” Mkutu said.
He had offered his message of support and left East London.
“Since my shooting the taxi operators have been very supportive hence I say they did not do this,” Mkutu said.
He suspected his shooting relates to a May shooting incident in Zwelitsha where a bus owner was killed.
“The talk of the town is that I had something to do with his death. I thought it was going to pass – for me it was just an innocent rumour. My shooters found me unprepared on Sunday as I did not up my security because I am innocent,” Mkutu said. — zwangam@dispatch.co.za
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