Eastern Cape police are offering a reward of cash to anyone who provides information that will lead to the arrest of four taxi owners including Uncedo Taxi Service Association leader Zola Bishop Yolelo and three others, whom they want to question in connection with ongoing taxi violence in the OR Tambo region.
Yolelo is also the South African National Taxi Council’s (Santaco) OR Tambo regional leader and, is a popular Mthatha West traditional leader.
The three other men being sought, all taxi owners – Melikhaya Ndabeni, Latuzana Makhamba and Thobile Ntshovulana – police describe as dangerous suspects who specialise in hiring assassins.
Police believe they may have been involved in several taxi-related killings around Mthatha, Qumbu, Tsolo, Libode and Ngqeleni.
Police said although several suspects had been arrested and appeared at various courts, these suspects remain at large.
“Attempts to trace them thus far have been unsuccessful as they continually escape being arrested. The community is cautioned not to approach them as they are considered extremely dangerous,” said provincial police spokesman Captain Khaya Tonjeni.
Yolelo had been involved in peace talks brokered by the government between taxi industry stakeholders following the taxi violence which saw about 60 people killed In the route war between Uncedo and Border Alliance Taxi Association (Bata) in the OR Tambo district.
Tonjeni said from information received, the group is believed to rove between provinces in a bid to avoid arrest. “They have been seen in Johannesburg, Rustenburg, Cape Town and around the Eastern Cape.
“Latest information suggests that ruthless criminals who masterminded the attacks have hired hitmen to target witnesses and police investigators,” said Tonjeni.
It is believed, police said, that Yolelo may be involved in other criminal activities, including illegal land invasion.
“Yolelo and these other men face a string of charges, including many counts of murder, conspiracy to commit murder and attempted murder,” said Tonjeni.
Uncedo president Ntsikelelo Geahler said he was not aware that police were looking for Yolelo.
“They know that Yolelo is a member of Uncedo, but we were not consulted to assist in looking for him. I have not been in contact with Yolelo for some time as I was busy with national matters,” Geahler said.
Santaco provincial chairwoman Noluntu Mahashe, who was shot inside her East London home late last year, expressed shock that Yolelo might be implicated in taxi killings.
“He is one of our chairmen and I know him as a very sweet person. I was not aware that he is a suspect and has gone into hiding,” she said.
In a Daily Dispatch article in March, Yolelo was quoted as saying that damage to vehicles and lost fare revenue due to taxi violence in OR Tambo in March 2016 was between R30-million and R50-million.
At the time, he said the amount was nothing compared to the cost of the human lives lost.
A police Eastern Cape taxi violence task team swooped on six suspected hitmen at Sibangweni village in Libode in March. They confiscated two stolen cars – a Mercedes-Benz C250 AMG and a Hyundai i20 – and two R5 rifles, an AK47 and three pistols.
Tonjeni said anyone with information on the whereabouts of the men should contact Lieutenant-Colonel Nceba Mtshiyo on 071-475-2292, Captain Xolile Mdepha on 082-319-8754 or Captain Phakamile Buduza at 071-475-1846...