The mayor of eDumbe (Paulpietersburg) local municipality in northern KwaZulu-Natal, where gun violence is widespread, is facing a police probe.
He allegedly pointed a firearm at a driver during a dispute over transporting commuters.
Mayor Sibusiso Mkhabela owns taxis that operate in eDumbe and its local townships. He was in the transport business before running for political office.
Mkhabela, from the National Freedom Party, was reported to the Paulpietersburg SAPS shortly after the incident on Friday afternoon
According to information obtained by Scrolla.Africa, Mkhabela and his bodyguard stopped a taxi belonging to another taxi owner identified as KP Zulu.
He allegedly pointed a gun at the driver of the taxi and told him to drop off the passengers he was transporting as he had no permit to operate in Bilanyoni.
His bodyguard allegedly went further.
“His bodyguard fired shots in the air in full view of the passengers,” an eyewitness to the incident told Scrolla.Africa.
“Even the passengers were threatened,” the source added.
Attempts to get Mkhabela to comment failed. He did not respond to a written message and his cellphone was constantly engaged when he was called.
KZN police spokesperson Constable Thenjiswa Ngcobo confirmed that a case has been opened against Mkhabela.
“Police in Paulpietersburg are investigating a case of pointing a firearm following an incident in which a man was allegedly pointed at with a firearm by suspects known to him when it was his turn to load passengers at Bilanyoni on 27 July,” Ngcobo said.
Pictured above: The mayor of eDumbe is in trouble after allegedly pointing a gun at a rival taxi operator.
