Six executive members of the Umtata-based Uncedo Taxi Association were sentenced to seven life terms each in the Umtata High Court on Monday for the murder of six members of a rival taxi association and a truck driver.
The Uncedo members were also sentenced to an additional 110 years on seven counts of attempted murder and possession of unlicenced firearms and ammunition, of which only 25 years will be effective.
Dumisani Mpula, Mzwandile Mtshemla, Manelisi Ngudle, Mzodumo Mahlutshana, Skhumbuzo Juqu and Lwandile Khohli murdered the seven on the night of September 16, 2001, at Tina Bridge near Qumbu in the Transkei.
The deceased, all Border Alliance Taxi Association members, were returning from a peace meeting with Transport Minister Dullah Omar when they were killed. The truck driver, who was from Durban, was fatally wounded in the cross-fire. A total of 155 spent cartridges from R1 and R5 rifles were found at the scene.
Passing sentence, judge Lusindiso Pakade said the motive for the killings was still unknown but that ”what is clear was that it (the attack) was carefully planned.
”All personal circumstance of the accused were presented before the court. None of the accused elected to testify in connection with the commission (of the murders) or their role in the crimes,” said Pakade.
Pakade said there were no compelling factors presented before him in court that mitigated against the accused being sentenced to mandatory life imprisonment terms.
The judge also found Mpula, Khohli and another man, Sibongile Mzondi, guilty of attempted murder and possession of unlicenced firearms relating to another incident — a cash in transit robbery near Lusikisiki on October 22, 2002.
However, Pakade agreed to include the sentences for the Lusikisiki incident within the original 110 year sentence (of which an effective 25 years will be served) by insisting that the Lusikisiki sentences run concurrently.
Three security guards were injured in that robbery but no money was stolen because the doors of the vehicle jammed. Defence advocate, Phillip Zilwa lodged an appeal against conviction of the convicts, who will remain in custody pending a decision on leave to appeal.
The public relations officer of Ncedo Taxi Association, Zola Mbobela said the judge’s decision was ”rather harsh” and that as a result, they had instructed their lawyers to lodge an appeal.
”We are not, at any stage, condoning any kind of violence in the taxi industry. We extend our sincere condolences to members of the families of both the deceased and injured.
”It is high time that we preach and practice our call for peace in the taxi industry and bury our differences for the sake of the innocent people that were always caught in crossfires of the taxi disputes,” said Mbobela. – Sapa