City of Johannesburg’s Transport MMC Kenny Kunene has called on the government to form a taxi killings task team, as a direct response to ongoing taxi-related violence.

He said the industry has been battered by violence for many years. “What you hear when you talk to some of the people high up, [is that] they are killing each other.”

Kunene made the remarks in Midrand during the funeral service of the late Alexandra, Randburg, Midrand, Sandton Taxi Association (Armsta) chairperson Molefe Victor Moekeletsi, which was broadcast live by several media houses.

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Moekeletsi was ambushed by armed assailants and fatally shot in Marlboro on October 30. The attack also claimed the life of his bodyguard and left several people injured.

Drawing comparisons with political killings, Kunene noted that violence in the political space prompted the establishment of the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT). Similarly, he called for a team dedicated to investigating the assassination of taxi leaders.

“It is time that a properly trained team investigates the killing of taxi bosses. The biggest problem is [that] you never see arrests.”

He stressed that when taxi bosses are killed, little action follows, but when politicians are killed, resources are immediately committed to protect them.

“The taxi industry is a very important stakeholder, especially in the transport department and in the economy of our country. Transport drives the economy of any country.”

During his funeral service, Moekeletsi was described by those who knew him as a jolly person. A visionary who made immense contributions to the taxi industry.

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He was determined to elevate his association even higher. “Those who knew and were around him knew that he was building something extraordinary,” one of his bereaved sons, Botshelo Moekeletsi, noted.

“The new Armsta offices – his vision. Armsta tapping into property and diversifying their portfolio – his vision.” He said that his father bled for Armsta, literally and figuratively.

Botshelo also reflected on their loss, saying nothing could have prepared him for the day of his father’s passing. “He was very big on family and had a taste for a finer life.”

He added that both Alexandra and the Moekeletsi family had lost a titan.

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