Church leaders in Gugulethu lambasted the shooting and killing of a Law Enforcement Advancement Plan (LEAP) officer during the taxi-related strike in Nyanga on Friday 4 August. They said an attack on the officers is an attack on the state.
Abathunywa Ministers Fraternity president and leader of Apostolic Amen Church in Zion based in Gugulethu, Rev Zama Mfihlo urged all parties involved in the impasse to sit around the table and resolve their differences.
Abathunywa is a church leaders’ organisation based in Gugulethu to bring the pulpit to the community and assist disadvantaged families with whatever they need.
Mfihlo said it is sad to see the communities suffering because of something that has nothing to do with them.
“It is no longer about the taxi industry and the City now. There are many people affected by this tension. We condemn any killing because we believe that one life lost is one too many,” said Mfihlo.
He stated that they suspected involvement by some criminal elements. He urged the law enforcement agencies to be hard on criminals.
“We don’t think the looting, burning of government facilities and vehicles have anything to do with the taxi strike. There is an element of criminality. The criminals saw the opportunity and used it to taint the taxi industry,” he said.
The City’s Mayco member for safety and security JP Smith said the City is devastated to learn of the murder of a LEAP officer in Nyanga.
He said the deceased was a passenger in a marked Law Enforcement vehicle driving in the area just after 20:00 when they came under heavy fire.
“When his colleagues realised he had been hit, they sped off to Heideveld Day Hospital, but the officer was declared deceased on arrival. He had sustained gunshot wounds to the head. We extend our sincerest condolences to his loved ones and colleagues,” said Smith.
He said the City has arranged counselling for the other officers who were in the vehicle as well as the rest of our LEAP deployment in Gugulethu where the murdered officer was based.
Smith said the officers are investigating and the City will provide support and assistance where needed.
“Initial indications are as many as 13 bullets hit the vehicle, which means the shooter’s intent was very clear. This callous attack must be condemned in the strongest terms, and we will not rest until those responsible are caught and brought to justice,” said Smith.
The Cape Town mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis has authorised the maximum reward payable for information that can lead to a breakthrough in the murder of the LEAP officer in Nyanga which is R250 000.
“We urge anyone with information to please come forward so that those responsible for this callous attack can be brought to book. A reminder that the City’s toll-free tip offline number is 0800 110077,” said Lewis.
The provincial police spokesperson Lt-Col Malcolm Pojie said Nyanga officers had opened a murder docket as well as two charges of attempted murder for further investigation following the fatal shooting which claimed the life of a Law Enforcement Officer on Friday 04 August at about 20:15 at Miller Road.
He said preliminary information reveals that the deceased was a passenger in the back of a vehicle when an unknown gunman opened fire whilst they were travelling along Miller Road, en route to Bishop Lavis, when they came under attack.
He said the officers noticed that the deceased sustained gunshot wounds to the head and sped off to the Heideveld day hospital where the officer was declared deceased.
“Possibility that the attack is related to the ongoing taxi strike cannot be ruled out. However, the motive forms part of the ongoing investigation. The officers were part of members performing crime prevention patrols to quell taxi-related incidents that have unfolded in the province,” said Pojie.
The officers appeal to anyone with information to please contact the local police station or Crime Stop at 08600 10111. All information will be dealt with confidentially.
