Cato Manor unit ‘paid to kill rivals’, inquiry hears

By Simon Nare

The Nkabinde Inquiry, probing the fitness of Gauteng Director of Public Prosecutions Advocate Andrew Chauke to hold office, has heard allegations of a close relationship between the Cato Manor unit and the KwaDukuza Taxi Association, which allegedly collected money to pay police officers to kill rival operators from the KwaMaphumulo Taxi Association.

KwaMaphumulo Taxi Association chairperson Siphamandla Mhlongo told the inquiry, chaired by retired Constitutional Court Justice Bess Nkabinde, that he had heard directly from KwaDukuza Taxi Association members about how funds were raised to pay members of the unit to protect them.

Mhlongo was corroborating an affidavit by a former KwaDukuza Taxi Association security guard, who claimed to have seen Cato Manor unit head General Johan Booysen and another senior member receiving money in an envelope from taxi bosses.

In an affidavit submitted to the inquiry, the guard — identified only as Mr Mathonsi — alleged