Pretoria- Fikile Mbalula has called for the speedy arrest of those behind the killing of North West businessman Wandile Bozwana.
The sports minister was speaking in his personal capacity during the funeral service of Bozwana in Pretoria on Saturday. He told mourners about the memories he had made with Bozwana.
“The killers of Bozwana must be found. This phenomenon of killing others must stop,” he said.
Mbalula called on people to desist from conspiracy theories regarding the killing. He said people should take information to police to assist in their investigations. He added that the person who pulled the trigger must reveal who paid him for crime.
“We don’t want the man who pulled the trigger but the one behind him. We want to know why he killed him. Was it for political reasons or business? We want the truth because the truth shall set us free.
“They must know they killed an innocent man and they are cowards. We believe in our strength and that of God, they will be found and locked up for a long time. This is how we will avenge the life of Bozwana,” said Mbalula.
Bozwana was shot and killed in what many people, including his family, believe was a hit. He died in hospital on October 2.
Bozwana and a colleague, Mpho Baloyi, were travelling on the N1 north from Johannesburg at about 16:00 when gunmen in a silver grey BMW M3 allegedly pulled up next to their car near the Garsfontein off-ramp and opened fire on the branded Renault Clio.
About 12 bullets hit the car, with nine of them hitting Bozwana. Baloyi - who was driving the Clio - was shot twice, but managed to drive to a car dealership near Menlyn Shopping Centre to seek help.
Mbalula ,who said he was very close to Bozwana, described him as a very talented individual and a hard worker.
“He worked very hard to be where he was. It’s a very scarce ingredient in human life. Wandile was not fake in what he did and what he wanted to achieve. He was very committed in what he wanted to achieve.”
Mbalula added that Bozwana did not mince his words when he differed with people.
“He was very vocal. We were close but he would not hide things from you. He would say it out loud. Heading to Polokwane, he was a [Thabo] Mbeki man and made it known. He said ‘this Zuma thing I’m not going to be part of it.’ He did not canvas underground, he told me straight to my face,” Mbalula said.
Mbalula also told mourners that Bozwana called him 30 minutes before he was shot. He did not answer the call as he was in meetings.
“I thought I would call him when I was done. I called later and someone answered his phone and said Bozwana was shot. I said you’re joking; he said he was taken to hospital. I did induction for Youth league and when I finished at 10pm, I called to find out which hospital he was in. I was then told that he was dead. All of that in a space of 4 hours in one day,” he said.