/ 7 November 2006

Taxi boss jailed for 18 years for murder

GaRankuwa taxi boss Oupa ”Mzayoni” Moremi has been jailed for 18 years for murder, the Pretoria News reported on Tuesday.

According to the newspaper’s website, the Mmabatho Circuit Court imposed sentences of 48 years each on Moremi and two of his drivers, Colleth and Clement Ledingwane for crimes including two murders and a kidnapping.

Their victims were alleged hijackers who were taken from their homes to a railway line where they were hit with sjamboks and kicked.

Another five taxi drivers were sentenced to 43 years’ imprisonment each. They were: James Moche (38) Lucky Malesa (30) Thembeni Dikgale (37) Amos Skhosana (35) and Thabo John Mbele (29).

They were found guilty of murdering Temba Makuwa (22) and Aaron ”Speedy” Motlhamme (21) both of GaRankuwa, on November 26 2000, when they also kidnapped and attempted to kill Tshepo Rankapole.

A ninth accused, John Ngwako Madidimala (38) was jailed for five years for his part in the kidnapping. – Sapa