MEDIA STATEMENT

KWAZULU-NATAL MEC FOR TRANSPORT, MR S'BU NDEBELE, HAS EXPRESSED OUTRAGE AT THE CALLOUS AND COLD-BLOODED ASSASSINATION OF THE ACTING CHAIRPERSON AND A MEMBER OF THE DURBAN TAXI OWNER'S ASSOCIATION

KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport, Mr S'bu Ndebele, has expressed outrage at the callous and cold-blooded assassination of the acting Chairperson of the Durban Taxi Owner's Association, Mr M I Ntuli, and Mr Pat Ntuli who was a member of the said Association, at Nongoma, this morning.

Mr MI Ntuli, together with Mr Pat Ntuli, were allegedly gunned down whilst on their way to a meeting in Nongoma this morning. This meeting was convened between Mr MI Ntuli and the leadership of the Nongoma Taxi Association to discuss the peace agreement that has been reached by the Durban Taxi Owner's Association and the Durban Long Distance Taxi Association.

On 28 August 2001, Mr MI Ntuli submitted an affidavit, which outlined the background to the peace process in the taxi industry and in which he pledged his full support to the peace process, to the Taxi Tribunal dealing with the long distance taxi conflict in Durban. It seems as if the submission that was presented to the Taxi Tribunal had unsettled certain rogue elements who are opposed to peace within the taxi industry.

By making this submission, Mr MI Ntuli also thereby declared himself as a target for those elements who want to perpetuate violence within the taxi industry. It is in the light of these circumstances, therefore, that the death of these two leaders is indeed a sad day for the taxi industry in this province.

MEC Ndebele has called on all peace-loving taxi operators to follow in Mr Ntuli's footsteps, who was prepared to lay down his life for the truth by ensuring that the peace process is not derailed at any cost. "Co-operation with the police by all taxi operators who are committed to this process will ensure the successful arrest and prosecution of these perpetrators. We believe that arrests are imminent in this case. The action of justice officials who in recent months are also trying to put an end to this scourge of violence by handing down appropriate sentences for taxi-related murders is also confirmation that we will win this battle.

As government, we are going to insist that the peace agreement is followed right through to the end and finalised," said Mr Ndebele.

"The recent spate of taxi shootings were indicative that there are elements involved in the taxi industry who are hell bent on disrupting the peace process and who are threatened by a unified and controlled industry. These people are exploiting certain disputes, manipulating the role-players and trying to ensure that tension is sustained. Therefore, despite all our efforts and the genuine commitment of some leaders within the industry to see the peace process come to fruition, these evil forces, in desperation, continue to incite and destabilise the industry. Nevertheless, no individual or individuals will cause us to deviate from this cause of action" MEC Ndebele said.

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