Taxi violence in Western Cape claims the life of a police officer, Cata member

The taxi violence gripping the Western Cape has once again turned deadly- this time claiming the life of a police officer who was also a member of the Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association (Cata).

Constable Desmond Mandlevu, 42, stationed at the Makhaza police station, was gunned down on Thursday morning in Asanda Village, Lwandle, in Strand while reportedly on his way to a meeting.

According to Western Cape police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Malcolm Pojie, the Serious and Violent Crime Unit and the Taxi Violence team are investigating a murder case for investigation after Mandlevu was shot around 9:45am in Mgidlana Street.

“It is alleged that the deceased was driving down the street when unknown gunmen opened fire on him and fatally shot him in the upper body. The deceased lost control of his vehicle, which came to a halt against a fence of a residence. The motive is believed to be taxi-conflict related. The suspects are yet to be arrested,” Pojie said.

Police have appealed to the public for assistance, urging anyone with information to contact Captain Lukhanyo Magadla of the Provincial Detectives Serious and Violent Crime Unit on 082 411 3245, or Crime Stop on 08600 10111, or use the MySAPS app anonymously.

The shooting is believed to be linked to the violent dispute between Cata and the Cape Organisation for the Democratic Taxi Association (Codeta), who are fighting over control of the lucrative Khayelitsha–Somerset route.

The Western Cape government has since closed the route until 9 October in an effort to stem bloodshed.

Cata spokesperson Nkululeko Sityebi confirmed Mandlevu’s membership in the association.

“He was our former Lwandle secretary. We don’t know if he was a police officer, we only know that he was active in our association. He did such a great job, we have lost one of our best administrators. We wish to extend our heartfelt condolences to his loved ones,” Sityebi said.

Mandlevu’s past has also drawn attention.

According to reports, he was arrested in 2014 for murder after allegedly shooting and killing Mzoxolo Mtsi, who had stopped for him while he was hitchhiking to Port Elizabeth.

The killing happened on the N2 near George.

His death has raised questions about police involvement in the taxi industry.

Police spokesperson Colonel Andrè Traut said: "No police officer is allowed to operate a security company or to be in the taxi industry. We will be looking into this case from all angles."

Portfolio Committee on police chairperson Ian Cameron said: “I think there's, there's two angles that the police need to do. The one is that the entire command structure, like I said before, from Brigadier upwards and they can start in the Western Cape must be audited, so lifestyle audit and a skills audit just those two things. If they do that, they're really going to lose quite a few people just in terms of skills.

“I mean, there are people that are appointed in positions that don't have a clue about the police. You can just go to Philippi Training Academy and see that amongst the top five at the academy, only one is a police officer, and that's a police academy. So that's just in terms of skills and then lifestyle audits.

“It's a fact that it's not functioning the way that it should. If you look at the cars that some constables and sergeants drive. You know, they're busy with other things. There's just no way they can afford the cars that they drive with the with the salary of a constable or a sergeant. So it goes both ways, skills, lifestyle audit on a senior level and on a junior level in any hostile or high risk unit or environment, lifestyle audits. It's that simple.

“I mean, a few months ago, Dean McPherson said that in Public Works, they were concurrently running 400 lifestyle audits. Why can't they do the same in the police?” said Cameron.

According to the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security, police officials, as custodians responsible for enforcing the National Land Transport Act (NLTA), cannot be involved in the “taxi industry”.

Based on the provisions of Section 13 of the NLTA, no police official, nor their spouse, is allowed to own taxis. Police officers and their spouses, therefore, commit an offence should they own taxis or otherwise be involved in the public transport industry.

They also contravene the National Instruction 18 of 2019: Integrity Management in the South African Police Service. All police officials are well aware of this national instruction and are sensitised frequently on integrity management.

The NLTA outlines: "If any police official is found to be involved in a prohibited industry, such as the transport or security sector, a disciplinary investigation must be initiated for the purpose of remedial steps.

"Where there are allegations, suspicions, or complaints that police officers (or their spouse, partners, and/or immediate family) are involved in the public transport industry and there is sufficient information available, line managers/commanders must immediately institute internal disciplinary processes and, where applicable, also register criminal case dockets."

mandilakhe.tshwete@inl.co.za