Gqeberha, Eastern Cape – Police in Gqeberha are investigating the brutal murder of a taxi driver at the Walmer Taxi Rank on Monday, marking the second such killing in the city in just over a week. The incident has heightened concerns about violence within the taxi industry and overall public safety in the metro.
The victim has been identified as 38-year-old Unathi Mpathiswa. Police spokesperson Captain Sandra Janse van Rensburg confirmed that officers responded to a complaint at approximately 6.35am and found Mpathiswa at the scene with multiple gunshot wounds to his body. "The motive for the murder remains unknown, and the killers are still at large," she stated.
This latest incident follows the murder of 51-year-old taxi boss Luvuyo Mbamba, who was gunned down at a petrol station in Blue Water Bay on Friday, 1 August, while waiting to pick up his wife.
According to van Rensburg, Mbamba was seated in his VW Amarok at approximately 3pm when an unknown suspect approached and fired multiple shots at him.
In what may be a breakthrough in the Mbamba case, van Rensburg announced that a 37-year-old suspect was arrested on Wednesday, 6 August 2025, by the Provincial Organised Crime Investigation Unit. "The suspect presented himself at the SAPS offices, accompanied by his attorney, and was subsequently detained," she said. The suspect appeared in court on 7 August 2025, and the case has been remanded to Friday, 15 August 2025.
The recent surge in taxi-related violence has put the police under increased pressure to act. Gqeberha is grappling with this surge in violent crime and public disorder. The police have said they are intensifying efforts to bring perpetrators to book and ensure community safety.
Meanwhile, authorities are appealing to the public for assistance in the Mpathiswa murder investigation. Anyone with information is urged to contact Constable Andisile Nkayi on 082 442 1227. Tips can also be shared anonymously via Crime Stop at 08600 1011, at the nearest police station, or through the MySAPS App.
In a separate incident highlighting the challenges law enforcement faces in the region, a woman was arrested at a roadblock in Gqeberha for assaulting a police officer and obstructing her duties. Eastern Cape Transport Department spokesperson Unathi Binqose confirmed that the officer was assisting a traffic official in apprehending a male drunk driver when the woman exited the vehicle and attacked her.
"The woman was arrested and is being detained at the KwaZakhele police station," Binqose stated. He also noted that the operations, led by female traffic officials as part of Women’s Month initiatives, resulted in the arrest of 98 suspected drunk drivers over the weekend. "This highlights the ongoing efforts to curb lawlessness on the roads," he added.
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