21 hours ago
SANTACO PRAISES SLAIN ‘EXTORTION KINGPIN'
Six armed suspects were fatally shot during a shootout with police on R 61 between Mthatha and Ngcobo. Santaco national chairperson Zola Bishop Yolelo was among the deceased.
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.
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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
