taxi industry

The taxi industry is alleged to be linked with organised crime and efforts to infiltrate the SAPS and TMPD, introducing investigation questions about Deputy Chief's role in the taxi industry.

“Investigating all allegations of people who are linked to the taxi industry and are alleged to have been involved in organised crime and efforts to infiltrate the SAPS and the TMPD ... Your status as someone inside the TMPD and a taxi business operator raises questions.”

Deputy Chief Dhlamini asserts that there is no conflict of interest between his family's taxi industry connections and his law enforcement duties regarding the taxi industry.

“No at all ... I am not directly involved with them and I mean whatever they run, they comply. I do not interfere with anything.”

Deputy Chief Dhlamini denies that AARTO notices are of no major significance to the taxi industry, affirming their major interest in such notices and related traffic enforcement matters.

“No.”

Deputy Chief Dhlamini knows Mr Joe Sibanyoni from the taxi industry due to his brother's involvement establishing SALTA but has never met or interacted with him.

“The one that I know, I have never met with him, it is Mr Joe Sibanyoni. He used to work with my brother in the taxi industry when they were establishing SALTA.”

The taxi industry regularly has meetings with the road and transport policing general and sometimes with the Minister and provincial Commissioner to resolve issues together in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN).

“the taxi industry, they are more interested in police because they are working hand in glove with them”

Lieutenant-General Shibiri confirmed the existence of a group of five persons involved in mining interests in Rustenburg and Brits, with links to taxi operations and ownership of a fleet of taxis.

“Yes, him, I am sure they are five. They are a group of five. They were five. They are having other companies together. They are having other companies together also, or mining rights together. All of them, they were known for taxi. They were owning taxis. They were owning a fleet of taxis.”

Lieutenant-General Shibiri linked a series of murders, including the Armand Swart murder, to violence within the taxi industry and to contract killers previously working for Mr Mswazi.

“I was referring to the murders happening from that particular group. So, I was thinking their link is about taxi violence... after Armand Swart murder happened, and then this person, Molefe arrested, and these people who were contract murderers from the taxi industry side...”