Botshelo Moekeletsi, son of the late Alexandra Randburg Midrand Sandton Taxi Association (Armsta) chairperson Molefe Moekeletsi, shared the heartbreaking memory of his last phone call with his father – just minutes before he was gunned down. “08:55, on that dreaded Thursday morning, was the last time I spoke to him. Our call wasn’t anything out of the ordinary. That was the last phone call he ever took.”

20 minutes later, Botshelo received the devastating news that his father had been killed.

Read more: Armsta chairperson’s death sparks call for task team to probe taxi violence

Speaking at the funeral service in Midrand on November 8, he revealed that he had long feared this day. Since his father narrowly escaped an assassination attempt in May 2019, followed by the torching of half his taxi fleet, Botshelo had tried to prepare himself mentally for the possibility of losing him to violence. “I didn’t think that day would come so soon. I don’t think anything could have prepared me for it.”

Just over a month ago, Armsta and the Alexandra Taxi Association (ATA) gathered at Kwabhekilanga to mark a historic moment of peace and unity in Alexandra’s taxi industry.

At the time, Moekeletsi said that the era of settling disputes through violence must be left behind, while ATA chairperson Vusi Mayaba joined him in envisioning a future built on co-operation.

Unfortunately, on the morning of October 30, their vision of a violence-free taxi industry was shattered.

Also read: Armsta patroller shot dead in Alexandra

Moekeletsi (52) was ambushed and fatally shot in Marlboro Gardens while driving to his office. He was escorted by bodyguards when unknown gunmen opened fire in broad daylight, riddling the convoy with bullets.

Moekeletsi, along with one of his bodyguards, died at the scene. According to Gauteng Police spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi, the attack also injured innocent bystanders. An e-hailing driver and his female passenger were hurt when one of the fleeing vehicles crashed into them.

Acting Gauteng Police Commissioner Fred Kekana confirmed that the attackers were in a BMW, later found abandoned with blood on the driver’s seat, suggesting one of the suspects may have been wounded.
While police have not confirmed the type of firearms used, eyewitnesses claim the suspects were armed with assault rifles. Cartridges were found scattered across the crime scene.

Moekeletsi’s family spokesperson, Reuben Mahlagare, spoke about the events. “We always knew that the type of work he was doing, there was always a possibility, but we didn’t expect that he would be attacked in this way. It was deliberate, it was planned, there is no doubt about that.”

Police are investigating two counts of murder and three counts of attempted murder. While the motive remains unclear, Nevhuhulwi said the incident may be linked to taxi violence.

Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok for the latest updates!