Another taxi owner gunned down

A well-known taxi owner of Magau, Mr Jeffrey Matshivha (50), was shot dead at Madombidzha next to a tavern on 28 March. His death is seemingly related to a feud over taxi routes.

This is the second taxi-related killing in Vhembe in the past month. On 22 March, another taxi owner, the 33-year-old Mr Muvhuso Justice Mbaimbai, was killed at his home at Hamutsha.

Last Thursday’s murder sent shockwaves through the taxi industry and the local community, with many calling on the government to tighten the screws and apprehend the killers. Taxi violence and related killings are no longer confined to the big towns and cities but is also spreading to the remote rural areas in the Vhembe District.

The Vhembe police spokesperson, Sgt Vuledzani Dathi, said that Matshivha had been shot at around 20:00. “He was shot from close range, and we found several cartridges next to his body,” he said. Dathi said that Matshivha was standing outside a tavern at Madombidzha when an armed man walked up to him. The assassin randomly started firing at Matshivha without saying a word. After the shooting, the killer got into a car and sped away. “The suspect is not known at this stage and the motive is not yet clear either, but taxi violence cannot be ruled out,” said Dathi.

The chairperson of the Polokwane/Sibasa Taxi Association, Mr Lutendo Machochi, said that he was still shocked that one of its members was shot dead. “The deceased’s colleagues, who had been traumatised by the incident, were receiving counselling,” added Machochi. He expressed his condolences to the Matshivha family. “The role he played in fostering unity, discipline, hard work, and dedication within the family and community shall always be cherished,” Machochi said.

The family spokesperson, Mr Vusi Mathabatha, said that the family members were still traumatised and did not understand the reason for such a murder. “We are still shocked and terrified by this assassination. We used to regard him as our pillar,” he added.

He described Matshivha as a visionary and a strategic thinker. “We have received many messages of condolences locally and from abroad and it shows us that my uncle was a people’s person and accommodating to everyone, irrespective of colour, race, and religion,” he said.

At our going to press, the funeral arrangements were not yet finalised.

Date:05 April 2024

By: Kaizer Nengovhela

Kaizer Nengovhela started writing stories for Limpopo Mirror in 2000. Prior to that he had a five year stint at Phala-Phala FM as sports presenter. In 2005 Kaizer received an award from the province's premier as Best Sports Presenter. The same year he was also nominated as Best Sports Reporter by the Makhado Municipality. Kaizer was awarded the Mathatha Tsedu award in 2014.

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