Delmas taxi boss, bodyguards killed less than 3 months after his brother gunned down
Isaac Mathe was shot dead on January 27 and his older brother, Simon, was murdered on October 1.
Prominent Delmas businessman and well-known taxi boss Isaac Mathe (34) was gunned down on January 27, just short of three months after his brother Simon Mathe was gunned down in a similar fashion.
Isaac’s brutal death sent shockwaves through the community of Delmas and Botleng.
The Mathe brothers were both influential businessmen in the community who each died in their vehicles under a rain of bullets.
Isaac and two of his bodyguards were fatally wounded in a drive-by shooting on Rakwena Street in Botleng at 20:30 last Saturday.
According to the media spokesperson for Mpumalanga SAPS, Colonel Donald Mdhluli, Isaac was driving his blue Ford Mustang. His bodyguards escorted him in a beige double cab GD6 Toyota bakkie.
Mdhluli said in a media statement that gunmen suddenly emerged from a passing vehicle heading in the opposite direction.
The shooters opened fire on the Ford Mustang and the Toyota bakkie.
A woman who was passing by was also wounded in her right leg, right arm and breast. She was transported to the Bernice Samuel Hospital in Delmas.
The police found two rifles and two pistols at the crime scene, possibly belonging to the bodyguards.
Many spent rifle and pistol cartridges were on the road where the attack happened.
According to Mdhluli, a team of investigators has already been assembled under the leadership of the provincial commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela, to establish the motive and to arrest those behind the murders.
The general vehemently condemned the incident.
Isaac’s older brother, Simon, died under circumstances very similar to that of Isaac’s murder.
Simon and Bongani Msiza were killed in a drive-by shooting at around 15:00 on October 1 on Stoffberg Avenue between Persida and Springs.
During this incident, Simon and Msiza were spotted driving at high speed in a gold Jaguar towards Springs with a silver vehicle short on their tail.
Msiza was driving, and Simon was in the back seat. A chase ensued where Msiza apparently lost control of the Jaguar.
Both Msiza and Simon were gunned down in the car and declared dead on the scene.
Another man, who was in the front passenger seat, was seriously wounded. He was transported to the hospital.
“These seemingly senseless murders leave locals with more questions than answers. One cannot but wonder, and even speculate about the motive behind the murders,” a Delmas resident, who wishes to stay anonymous, told Streeknuus.
Police urged anyone with information that may lead to the arrest of the culprits to call the Crime Stop number at 08600 10111 or send information using MySAPSApp.
All received information will be treated as confidential, and callers may opt to remain anonymous.
