Bonke Makalala, the high-profile taxi boss linked to charges of extortion, fraud, intimidation, murder, attempted murder and possession of an unlicensed firearm in and around Cape Town, appeared in the Athlone Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.
Also read: Taxi boss wanted for crimes in Cape Town identified as local businessman
He was arrested in Pretoria earlier this month, where he was reportedly hiding to avoid arrest. At the time of arrest, Makalala was found in possession of a loaded firearm, cell phones and laptops.
As per the Daily Maverick, police also opened a case of allegedly impersonating a police officer against him. He was caught on video driving a police vehicle and using the vehicle’s police radio.
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He now faces a total of six charges linked to offences from 2018.
On 17 August 2018, Makalala was reportedly arrested for possession of an unlicensed firearm in Old Crossroads, Nyanga. In 2020. he allegedly committed a similar offence.
According to the Daily Maverick, the charges of attempted murder date back to 2019 when he allegedly shot and wounded a woman and a nine-year-old. Prosecutor Nico Breyl says the State argued that he ‘acted in concert with other unknown persons acting with a common purpose’.
The murder charge is linked to the death of another taxi boss in 2019.
Makalala will appear in court again tomorrow and will remain in custody.
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Also read:
Taxi boss wanted for string of crimes in Cape Town arrested in Pretoria
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