Man dies in drive-by shooting

2003-08-12 19:30

Durban - A man was killed in a driveby shooting at Umhlali in northern KwaZulu-Natal on Tuesday and the murder was believed to be taxi-related, police said.

Captain Gugu Sabela said a taxi owner, whose name would not be released until all his next-of-kin were informed, was driving his private car with three passengers from Tongaat to Durban to attend a graduation ceremony.

Sabela said the car was overtaken around 08:30 by a white Opel Corsa with an NZ (Mtunzini) registration and an unknown number of occupants.

Sabela said one of the men in the Corsa opened fire at the taximan's car with an AK-47 assault rifle, hitting one of its passengers, Richard Maphumulo, in the head and killing him instantly.

One of the other passengers, a woman, was wounded in the legs by a ricochet. The other woman passenger and the driver were unhurt.

The Corsa drove away at high speed.

A murder docket was opened and investigations were continuing, Sabela said, adding that police believed the shooting was taxi-related since the car driver was a member of the KwaDukuza Taxi Association.

- SAPA