Cape Town - Ride-Haling service Bolt says it has launched an investigation after one of their drivers, Abongile Mafalala, was assaulted and set alight by a mob in Parkwood while allegedly transporting passengers in the area on Tuesday.
This is as police said they brought in a number of people for questioning on Thursday, who once charged will make an appearance in the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court on a charge of murder.
From Dunoon, Mafalala is said to have been accused of attempting to kidnap two children before he was assaulted by a mob of residents.
This comes in the wake of a string of alleged kidnapping and abductions which has sparked a climate of fear in various communities.
Bolt Country Manager, Takura Malaba said Mafalala was registered as a driver on the Bolt platform.
The last trip he recorded was on May 31 at 10.37am.
“He drove on behalf of the owner of the vehicle, and after multiple attempts, our operations team cannot get hold of the owner of the vehicle.
“Our team is further investigating the incident and will support the SAPS with any information we can, that may lead to the arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators of this horrific incident,“ Malaba said.
A resident who was at the scene has described how he was left “helpless and traumatised” after Mafalala was attacked by the mob.
“I did not see the person because there was a crowd when I got there. But I remember being so traumatised. I had experienced this before when my family members had been killed in the same nature. To watch the scene, that was very traumatic. It opened old wounds. I was just standing there, just crying. I just left cause I could see things were getting out of hand,” he said.
Dunoon councillor Meisie Makuwa said Mafalala’s family was “completely broken”.
“We have visited the family. It is a family of siblings who no longer have parents. Abongile was the breadwinner of the family. I know Abongile personally, he grew up in front of me. He was very shy and a very respectful young man.
“It is very cruel what they have done to this young man. I am really hurt. This was a racial attack to what they have done, Abongile was killed because he was black. We are saddened as the community of Dunoon, we are really hurt,” she said.
Grassy Park Community Police Forum Deputy chairperson, Nicole Jacobus said they welcomed the arrests made by police.
Cape Times