THE murder of Bizana traditional healer Alton “Ndzabe” Joja was the result of taxi warfare and not the Marikana killings or the work of the subsequent commission of inquiry.
This was claimed yesterday by Uncedo Service Taxi Association president Ntsikelelo Gaehler at Joja’s funeral at Ludeke Halt.
Hundreds of people from Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Free State, Western Cape and Eastern Cape attended.
Joja, also called known as Mzalwana (brother in Christ), was shot 15 times with a 9mm pistol and an assault rifle, and died in hospital on March 25.
“’The cold-blooded murder of tat’uNdzabe is totally not related to Marikana. Mr Joja is lying here dead because of us – he has been killed by those in the industry,” Gaehler said.
“It is those in the taxi industry who killed Ndzabe. We are here because of you in the industry. You should be ashamed and disgraced about what you have done to the family and the province,” he said.
He apologised to the family and the country for the murder, and later recalled that a week before his murder, Ndzabe had called him to say that money was being raised to have him assassinated by some in the taxi industry.
There was no feud between Uncedo Taxi Service and Border Alliance as organisations, but there were people who were targeting Ndzabe.
“It is wrong that we are confusing the family, the community and the police by making them believe the Ndzabe murder was associated with Marikana, while we know it is some of us in the industry. We have to talk truth,” said Gaehler urging the family and those in the industry not to seek revenge.
He found it strange Ndzabe was killed in the morning in full view of all in the village, but the locals did nothing to apprehend the killers .
Family speakers also complained about the treatment they received from the police.
“No police officers have come here to take statements from family members who saw the killing. It is really strange that no statements were taken from the eyewitness.
“It leads us to conclude the police know something about the killing,” said Fikile Kango on behalf of the family.
Provincial police spokeswoman Lieutenant-Colonel Sibongile Soci said the murder was now being investigated by the Hawks and she could no longer comment.
Taxi operators ‘killed Marikana healer’
This was claimed yesterday by Uncedo Service Taxi Association president Ntsikelelo Gaehler at Joja’s funeral at Ludeke Halt.
Hundreds of people from Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Free State, Western Cape and Eastern Cape attended.
Joja, also called known as Mzalwana (brother in Christ), was shot 15 times with a 9mm pistol and an assault rifle, and died in hospital on March 25.
“’The cold-blooded murder of tat’uNdzabe is totally not related to Marikana. Mr Joja is lying here dead because of us – he has been killed by those in the industry,” Gaehler said.
“It is those in the taxi industry who killed Ndzabe. We are here because of you in the industry. You should be ashamed and disgraced about what you have done to the family and the province,” he said.
He apologised to the family and the country for the murder, and later recalled that a week before his murder, Ndzabe had called him to say that money was being raised to have him assassinated by some in the taxi industry.
There was no feud between Uncedo Taxi Service and Border Alliance as organisations, but there were people who were targeting Ndzabe.
“It is wrong that we are confusing the family, the community and the police by making them believe the Ndzabe murder was associated with Marikana, while we know it is some of us in the industry. We have to talk truth,” said Gaehler urging the family and those in the industry not to seek revenge.
He found it strange Ndzabe was killed in the morning in full view of all in the village, but the locals did nothing to apprehend the killers .
Family speakers also complained about the treatment they received from the police.
“No police officers have come here to take statements from family members who saw the killing. It is really strange that no statements were taken from the eyewitness.
“It leads us to conclude the police know something about the killing,” said Fikile Kango on behalf of the family.
Provincial police spokeswoman Lieutenant-Colonel Sibongile Soci said the murder was now being investigated by the Hawks and she could no longer comment.
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