Delmas – A taxi boss and his two bodyguards were fatally gunned down at the weekend in Botleng near Delmas, Mpumalanga, on Saturday night.
On Monday, the 34-year-old taxi boss, who was shot dead on Saturday night, was identified as Isaac Mathe.
The police said the details of the dead bodyguards were being withheld until their next of kin were traced and informed of the tragedy.
It is believed that the bodyguards were originally from KwaZulu-Natal.
The shooting occurred when Mathe was driving in his car with his bodyguards following behind in another vehicle.
Indications were that a third vehicle drove up to the two cars and someone inside opened fire killing the taxi boss and his bodyguards.
A woman was wounded in the shooting and was rushed to hospital.
Mpumalanga police spokesperson Colonel Donald Mdhluli said the motive for the shooting was not yet known.
He said three murder cases as well as an attempted murder were opened for further investigation.
“Three people were fatally shot, including a man in the leadership of a taxi industry as well as two of his bodyguards,” Colonel Mdhluli said.
“The three were sadly killed in what is believed to be a drive-by-shooting on the Rakwena Street.
“During the incident, a female victim was also shot but lived to tell the tale. She was taken to hospital after sustaining some injuries.”
Colonel Mdhluli said the police were probing the case, but no arrests had yet been made.
“The said man was driving in his car and being escorted by his bodyguards when armed suspects emerged from a vehicle, which was driving in the other direction,” Colonel Mdhluli said.
“It is further said that the suspects began to open fire on the two vehicles, fatally wounding the said man as well as his bodyguards.
“A team of police investigators has already been established under the leadership of the police commissioner in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Manamela to establish the motive and arrest those behind the bloody murder.”
