Taxi hitmen who committed heinous crimes in the Msinga area in KwaZulu-Natal were handed a double life sentence and a further 80 years imprisonment by the Pietermaritzburg Regional Court on 29 August.
Muzi Sibiya, 42, and Nduduzo Shezi, 36, were found guilty of murder and robbery with aggravating circumstances.
The two men, and a posse of four, brazenly entered the post office at Tugela Ferry Mall in Msinga on 4 July 2022, and robbed the cashiers for an undisclosed sum of cash. Sadly, the money was meant to pay out SASSA grant beneficiaries. Staff were robbed of jackets, and a security guard’s two-way radio was nabbed.
What unfolded thereafter could only be likened to a bank robbery portrayed in a Western movie, minus the horses.
“The suspects then jumped into a getaway vehicle which was parked outside, and as they fled from the scene, they fired shots randomly, and one woman [Nomusa Ntshele] who was standing in a queue at a nearby ATM was shot and died at the scene,” said Colonel Robert Netshiunda.
Alerted to the bank robbery, the Msinga police pursued the posse.
“The suspects abandoned their vehicle and ran towards the nearby bushes. Sibiya was found hiding inside a cave. He was found in possession of the jacket and a two-way radio, as well as an undisclosed amount of money, which was stolen during the robbery,” said Netshiunda.
Police investigations determined that Sibiya was a taxi driver and a hitman responsible for several taxi-related crimes in Masinga.
Police further discovered that the getaway vehicle was linked to Nduduzo Shezi, who was serving time in a Johannesburg prison for a different taxi-related murder.
Shezi was charged alongside Sibiya for the Masinga murder and robbery.
According to Netshuinda, arrests of other gang members in the Masinga crimes are imminent.
Suspected Taxi hitman arrested for murder
In a separate incident, a man whom police describe as a “taxi hitman” was arrested on 28 August and charged with the murder of Mohammed Hammid.
According to police spokesperson, Colonel Robert Netshiunda, Qaphelani Nyawose, 32, appeared before the Durban Magistrate’s Court on 29 August and was charged with the murder of Hammid that occurred on 17 July.
It is believed Nyawose lured Hammid to a meeting in Montclair, Durban, under the pretext of wanting to sell Hammid a licence to operate a taxi in the city.
“Hamid and his wife drove to a fast food store in Montclair to meet, reportedly to meet a taxi owner who had offered Hamid a work permit for him to join a local taxi association. The wife left the vehicle to go inside the store, and the husband remained inside his blue BMW.
“Suddenly, a white Ford Ranger with four occupants opened fire at Hammid without saying a word. He was declared dead at the scene,” said Netshiunda.
Metro Police were in the area when the shooting occurred and pursued the getaway vehicle, which they witnessed driving recklessly.
Realising they were chased by police, the men abandoned the Ford Ranger and ran off in different directions. Three of the suspects got into a Toyota Etios and escaped.
According to Netsiunda, upon investigation, police discovered an R5 rifle, a handgun, and ammunition in the abandoned Ford.
The Provincial Taxi Violence Unit took over the investigation and discovered clues in the vehicle that pointed to two of the suspects being from A Section in Umlazi.
Police followed up on leads and arrested Nyawose in Umlazi on 28 August.
Nyawose is expected to appear before the court again on 5 September for a bail application.
What are your thoughts on the taxi-related murders and robberies in KwaZulu-Natal?
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 11.
Subscribe to The South African website’s newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
