SANTACO PRAISES SLAIN ‘EXTORTION KINGPIN'
Image: Armand Hough/Independent Newspapers
THE South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) says its slain Eastern Cape chairperson Zola 'Bishop' Yolelo, who was killed in a shootout with police, will be remembered for 'his unwavering commitment and his robust approach' to leadership and engagement.
Yolela, who is suspected of being an extortion kingpin in the Mthatha area and six others were killed when they apparently opened fire on police after having been stopped on the R61 road between Mthatha and Ngcobo on Monday afternoon.
He was also suspected of being central to the recent attempts to extort Gift of the Givers teams assisting the Eastern Cape government in providing aid to victims of the recent deadly floods.
However, the police could not confirm his involvement in the latest incident where aid teams were threatened not to provide water to residents as this was interfering with their 'business'.
The police referred questions to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) instead.
Eastern Cape police spokesperson, Nobuntu Gantana confirmed that the intelligence driven operation targeted individuals suspected of involvement in extortion activities within the area.
'Six armed suspects were fatally shot during a shootout with police on R 61 between Mthatha and Ngcobo. Police stopped the vehicle, and the suspects stopped. The suspects stepped out of the vehicle and opened fire on police members. Officers returned fire in self-defence, resulting in the fatal shooting of all six suspects.
'The identities of the deceased are currently unknown. Forensic processes are underway to formally identify them. Firearms recovered from the suspects will undergo ballistic analysis,' said Gantana.
Video Player is loading.
Play Video
Play
Unmute
Current Time
0:00
/
Duration
-:-
Loaded :
0%
Stream Type LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live
LIVE
Remaining Time
-
0:00
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque
Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps
Reset
restore all settings to the default values Done
Close Modal Dialog
End of dialog window.
Advertisement
Next
Stay
Close ✕
Ad Loading
Ipid did not respond to requests for comment by deadline.
Santaco said it had learnt about Yolelo's death with 'deep sadness and shock'.
'Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, colleagues, and the entire industry at this difficult time,' santaco spokesperson, Rebecca Phala said.
Santaco said Yolelo's journey in the taxi industry started from humble beginnings as a car washer and conductor, rising through the ranks serving as chairperson of the Uncedo Mthatha Taxi Association, regional chairperson of the OR Tambo Regional Council, and as a member of the NEC of Uncedo Taxi Association.
Zola 'Bishop' Yolelo.
Image: Facebook
He later became part of Santaco's provincial leadership in the Eastern Cape when he was elected provincial chairperson in April 2022.
That was two years after police had issued a reward for information leading to his arrest over his alleged involvement in taxi-related murder cases around Mthatha, Qumbu, Tsolo, Libode and Nqgeleni.
At the time in 2018, police had said: " Although several suspects have already been arrested and appeared at courts, these suspects (Zola Bishop Yolela , Melikhaya Ndaba, Thabile Ntshovulana and Latuzana Makhamba) remain at large. Attempts to trace them thus far have been unsuccessful as they continually escape being arrested."
Phala said Yolelo played a key role in founding and chairing the Eastern Cape Transport Tertiary Co-operative Limited (ECTTC) in 2010, advancing the formalisation and transformation of the taxi industry.
The royal house of AbaThembu once again maintained that Yolelo was never a traditional leader and/or a Chief of the Mthatha West Area.
'It is a matter of public record that the Royal House of AbaThembu took legal steps against Mr Zola Yolelo 'bishop' before the Mthatha High Court; and successfully proved that Mr Zola Yolelo had no legal standing as leader of the Mthatha West either as chief or ordinary leader.
'We call upon all other individuals masquerading as chiefs and/or traditional leaders in the area, enabling their criminal enterprise as extortionists to immediately desist from such criminal behaviour. Desist now,' said the office of King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo.
Gift of the Givers could not be reached for comment yesterday. The ANC in the Eastern Cape did not respond to requests for comment on Yolelo's death and his ties to the party.
Cape Times
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
IOL News
8 hours ago
- IOL News
Yesu's legal troubles deepen: 14 new charges including kidnapping
Alleged taxi hitman, Vuyolwethu 'Yesu' Tshukela, failed to appear in the Athlone Magistrate's Court on Thursday. Image: Armand Hough / Independent Newspapers The State has added a host of new criminal charges against the man known as Yesu, bringing the total to 18. But on Thursday, the Athlone Magistrates' Court heard that the accused, Vuyolwethu Tshukela, could not be brought to court, and his exact whereabouts were temporarily unknown. Tshukela, arrested last month in Welkom in the Free State after months on the run, initially faced four charges. These included murder, attempted murder, and extortion. However, the State revealed on Thursday that after consulting with a senior advocate, 14 more charges were added. Among them are kidnapping, robbery, assault, intimidation, malicious injury to property, arson, and a second count of attempted murder, this time allegedly involving a security officer. The State prosecutor told the court: 'Your Worship, the charge sheet at first appearance only reflected four charges. That has now changed to 14 additional charges being added after consultation with the State advocate.' Before proceedings began, court orderlies informed the State that Tshukela had not been brought to court. A police officer explained that when he went to Pollsmoor Correctional Facility in the morning, Tshukela was not there and had been moved the week before to another facility, due to safety concerns, but no one seemed to know which. 'The accused is not before the court, Your Worship. He wasn't brought from Pollsmoor this morning,' the prosecutor said. The State confirmed that arrangements had since been made with Pollsmoor officials to ensure the accused is present at his next scheduled appearance. The prosecutor added: 'Due to the higher risk posed by the accused, he is not kept at Pollsmoor. However, after speaking to the chief at Pollsmoor, arrangements have been made for him to be brought to court next time.' The court heard that Tshukela's legal representative had been consulted on Thursday morning and indicated that the accused would be abandoning his bail application. However, this could not be confirmed due to his absence. Magistrate Keith Le Keur expressed concern about Tshukela not being in court, highlighting the procedural importance of the accused being present. 'But the only reason he is not here must be in terms of Section 159(3)(c) of the Criminal Procedure Act, for example, if he were in hospital. There must be a medical certificate,' said Le Keur. 'Pollsmoor cannot simply decide to keep him there arbitrarily. Under normal circumstances, I would have postponed it to the next day to have him here and then roll the matter in his presence. The proceedings must happen in the presence of the accused.'
IOL News
15 hours ago
- IOL News
I availed myself for accountability, Simelane tells DA in heated debate
Human Settlements Minister Thembi Simelane reminded the DA of its public representative, who was allegedly accused of murdering her sister, whom the party never suspended nor issued a press statement. Image: Hunk Kruger / Independent Newspapers HUMAN Settlements Minister Thembi Simelane has described the DA's personal attack on her as being tried in public without being charged. Simelane said she was not amazed by what was happening to her because a person stands in front of a judge when charged with an offence. 'You are trying me in public because you think this is the only way to degrade the work I am doing,' she said. Simelane responded to the DA's attacks during the budget vote for her department on Wednesday. The DA, which had its former deputy minister, Andrew Whitfield, dismissed for taking a trip to the US without authorisation from President Cyril Ramaphosa, has vowed not to vote in support of the budgets of departments left by compromised ministers and deputy ministers. On Tuesday, the DA claimed that Simelane was under investigation after it laid charges with the SAPS for the alleged theft of more than R700,000 by fraudulently billing Eskom when she worked for a company named Vitrovian. Speaking during the debate, DA MP Luyolo Mphithi said the Human Settlements Department was saddled with a catastrophic collapse of governance across its several housing entities. Mphithi recalled that Simelane was previously accused of receiving a R575,600 'loan' from Gundo Wealth Solutions, linked to the unlawful investments of municipal funds into the VBS Mutual Bank, while she was the mayor of the Polokwane Municipality. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ 'It seems that the president does not at all take issue with the fact that a person accused of corruption sits in his Cabinet and will have to look after the budget with R30 billion set aside for South Africans,' he said. Mphithi also said that although the department's budget and department have many challenges, it would under normal circumstances be supported. 'However, we are faced with a minister who has corruption allegations against her and has not been accountable to the South African public, which makes it difficult for us to support this budget,' he said. Mphithi's colleague, Conrad Poole said that when Simelane was accused, she should be in the dock before a judge and not be an MP entrusted with R33 billion of taxpayer funds. 'I certainly would not bet any money on this minister doing anything to clean up shop. If the allegations of corruption are true, she would rather buy coffee shops. She may, in fact, be planning to convert the Department of Human Settlements for her grand relaunch of her 'coffee' enterprise. In response, Simelane reminded the DA of its public representative, whom she identified as Msebenzi Radebe, who was allegedly accused of the murder of her sister, whom the party never charged. 'In 2016, when I managed to place charges against him, it was only then that the DA suspended him. Even on my calls to get the DA to get a statement of murder against my sister, they did not. In 2019, three years later, she died. 'So good, you can find the nearest door to the police station. Where it matters, you don't even know where the door is,' she said. Simelane insisted that the investigation was about accountability. 'I availed myself of accountability. Now the investigation is done, and you reported the case, but you now can't wait for the investigation to conclude. I fear I am going to disappear after this. I mean really,' she said. ANC MP Albert Seabi pleaded with Simelane not to be distracted by the amount of noise, no matter how loud it may be, including an allegation not tested in court. 'You have our support minister because of your strong work ethic, your dedication, your diligence, and your consistent commitment to transparency, accountability, and transforming the sector,' said Seabi. EFF MP Babalwa Mathulelwa said they rejected the budget not because 'we are extortionists like the DA'. Mathulelwa said the rejection of the budget was based on the empty promise wrapped in inflation and false hopes. ActionSA's Malebo Patricia Kobe said: 'The budget fails to honour the dignity of millions still waiting for a place to call home.' Rise Mzansi's Makashule Gana said: 'I will debate the budget and resist the temptation to debate or play the woman'. Cape Times
IOL News
18 hours ago
- IOL News
Gugulethu murder suspect turns himself in after viral image surfaces
The crime scene in Kanana Informal Settlement, Gugulethu. Image: Ayanda Ndamane / Independent Newspapers The man accused of killing eight people in Gugulethu stated to the Athlone Magistrate's Court that he surrendered to the police after seeing his image circulating on social media. Lungile Anthony Madolo, also known as 'Fire', made his first appearance in court on Wednesday in connection with the mass shooting in the Kanana informal settlement on June 28. Lungile Anthony Madolo, aka Fire, appeared in court for eight counts of murder. Image: Supplied / SAPS Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ According to the charge sheet, Madolo is accused of murdering Vuyolwethu Makongo, Siyanda Thongana, Afezile Thongana, Hlomla Thongana, Somile Vithela, Luyolo Zoneleni, Loyiso Jezile, and Phumlani Zoya. Police released Madolo's image alongside that of Loyiso Matinisi, stating that they could assist with crucial information about the killings. During proceedings, the State prosecutor informed Magistrate Keith Le Keur that there were media applications to take photographs and videos of the accused, but said he would oppose the publication of Madolo's face, while in court, due to an outstanding identity parade. The prosecutor said the media could, however, use pictures that were supplied before his arrest. 'There was a previous matter where his image had been published, but there is a significant difference between then and now,' the prosecutor told the court. Madolo responded directly to the magistrate, saying: 'I saw my picture trending and that is why I handed myself to the police. I have not changed, I still look the same way. And my face has been published before.' The State confirmed Madolo was arrested on June 30 and that the investigation is still in its early stages. Madolo initially indicated he would appoint a private attorney, but later opted to be represented by Legal Aid counsel for his first appearance. His lawyer told the court the accused was unhappy with the prosecutor's efforts to block the publication of his image. 'He said he is unhappy with the prosecutor. I can confirm his picture was all over social media. My client also said he doesn't want to stand for the identity parade because his face was everywhere already, and that is why he went to the police station,' said the Legal Aid representative. 'The weight of the identity parade will be determined at a later stage.' The State said it would oppose bail and is in the process of confirming whether Madolo has any pending matters or previous convictions. 'The accused before the court faces eight counts of murder, one for possession of an unlicensed firearm, the calibre of which is still unknown, and one count of possession of ammunition,' the prosecutor said. He added that Madolo had been linked to two separate crime scenes through eyewitnesses. 'Count two to 10 relate to the second scene. The two accused allegedly went to that scene. The seven deceased were seated inside a house when they were shot and died on the same day.' The State further indicated that a second suspect remains outstanding and said it intends to charge the accused on the doctrine of common purpose. The matter was postponed to July 9 for an identity parade and for the Director of Public Prosecutions to determine the schedule of the offence and provide bail information. Madolo will remain in custody. Police Oversight and Community Safety MEC Anroux Marais, urged anyone with information about the crime to come forward. Cape Times
