Suspect arrested in connection with murder of taxi boss, Charmaine Bailey

A 32-year-old suspect was arrested by Western Cape police on Saturday, in connection with the murder of Charmaine Bailey.

COURTESY: Facebook - Charmaine Bailey

Fifty-three-year-old Bailey, a leader of the Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association (CATA) regional taxi council, was shot dead while attending a meeting in May 2023, in Wynberg.

‘’The suspect was apprehended on Saturday in Houtbay during a police tracing operation. [He] is expected to appear in the Wynberg Magistrate’s court on Monday. The suspect has been charged with murder,’’ said Brigadier Novela Potelwa.

The Western Cape’s Mobility MEC, Ricardo Mackenzie, has welcomed the arrest.

‘’I am grateful for this breakthrough and progress made by the SAPS in the investigation. We will monitor this case and continue to follow up with the SAPS and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA)  until there is a successful conviction. Only successful convictions will stop or significantly reduce violent incidents in the minibus taxi industry,’’ said Mackenzie.

The MEC said he recently met with the provincial leadership of the SAPS and the NPA and established a Joint Task Team to deal with minibus taxi-related violence.

‘’The focus of the task team will be to go after the hitmen, but also the paymasters who fund and order the murders and other crimes impacting the minibus taxi industry, such as extortion and other elements of organized crime.’’

‘’My department will fully support law enforcement in whichever way possible to bring perpetrators of minibus taxi related crimes to book,’’ added Ricardo Mackenzie, Western Cape’s Mobility MEC.

 

Done By: Mitchum George