Durban — Four men were expected to appear in court on Thursday (today) for shooting dead an e-hailing driver and fleeing in his vehicle after robbing him of his firearm in August.
Police spokesperson Constable Thenjiswa Ngcobo said on August 30, at 10pm, e-hailing driver Ganesh Tiven, 38, received a request to pick-up clients at a tavern in Phoenix and transport them to Cornubia.
On arrival in Cornubia the four men turned on him and robbed him of his firearm.
They also attempted to put him in the boot of the vehicle, however he managed to run away, Ngcobo said.
“Whilst fleeing one of the suspects shot him on his leg and he fell to the ground.
“The suspects then approached the victim and fired several shots fatally wounding him.
“They fled in the deceased’s vehicle which was later found crashed in Ndwedwe,” Ngcobo said.
She said charges of murder and carjacking were opened at the Verulam police station.
On September 19, 2022, the investigation conducted by police officers from Verulam SAPS together with Crime Intelligence led them to a flat in Verulam where one of the suspects lived.
A search was conducted and a 9mm pistol belonging to the deceased was recovered, Ngcobo said.
“Bongani Ndebele, 20, was arrested for unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition as well as murder and carjacking.
“He appeared in the Verulam Magistrate’s Court on October 11, 2022, and the case remanded to October 13, 2022,” Ngcobo said.
“Three outstanding suspects aged between 17 and 23 were arrested on October 11, 2022 for murder and carjacking.”
Ngcobo said they were expected to appear in the Verulam Magistrate’s Court on Thursday (today).
When Reaction Unit SA responded to the scene, spokesperson Prem Balram said that Tiven was shot multiple times.
Balram said when reaction officers and paramedics arrived at the scene, they located Tiven on a grass verge next to the road.
“Upon examination, he was found to have sustained seven gun shot wounds to his body and head which resulted in his demise,” Balram said.
“Several spent 9mm cartridges were also located on scene.”
Balram added that his wallet with an undisclosed amount of cash was recovered in his possession.
Ngcobo added that investigations are under way to link the men to a robbery case which took place on September 10, 2022, at Cornubia where a family was robbed at gunpoint by a group of men.
They stole cellphones, a firearm and cash before they fled the scene.
She said a case of robbery was opened at Verulam police station for investigation.
Daily News