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Eastern Cape Transport, Safety, and Liaison MEC, Weziwe Tikana-Gxothiwe said her Department would not hesitate to exercise its right to terminate the operating license of a taxi-man accused of kidnapping and murdering his ex-girlfriend at Chicken Farm outside East London.
Her warning comes as the rate of gender-based violence cases and femicide, in particular, continue to wreak havoc in the country, prompting President Cyril Ramaphosa to describe the scourge as “a brutality that defies comprehension” and “an epidemic, as much as COVID-19 is.”.
The Department said 61-year-old Welcome Yose made his first court appearance on 17 June on charges of kidnapping and murdering Lindelwa Peni (43).
His case was postponed to 23 June for a bail application.
“We stand firmly behind President Ramaphosa’s call that perpetrators of violence against women and children must receive sentences that fit the horrific crimes they commit,” said Tikana-Gxothiwe.
She said she would take the cue from the court proceedings on the Department’s next move with regards to the suspect’s Public Transport Operating License.
“The law is on our side when it comes to that. The Public Transport Operating License is and should be held by a proper and legally fit individual, said Tikana-Gxothiwe.
However, the Transport MEC hastened to point out that she abided by the “notion of innocent until proven guilty”, but said if the court delivered a guilty verdict against the suspect, the department would act accordingly.
