There were sobs and tears during the emotional funeral of Mr Solomon Makananisa (58) on Sunday. Makananisa, a taxi boss and the public relations officer of the Makhado Long-Distance Taxi Association (Malta), was shot dead at Magau last Tuesday evening.
Thousands of drivers, taxi owners and concerned members of the community converged at the Makananisa family homestead at Madodonga to pay their last respects to the slain taxi boss. Speaker after speaker at the emotional funeral called for calm and for all to leave everything in the hands of the law.
Family spokesperson Mr Chris Makananisa described the death as a big loss to the family. "He was one of a kind, a unique person who was always ready to help each member of his family and whoever came to him for help. We have lost a great man," he said.
Makananisa said the deceased had played a uniting role in the family and they all looked to him as an example. He said that the family had accepted what happened and would wait for the wheels of justice to move at their own pace. "Let us all be calm and not tarnish the good name of Solomon. It will be a fitting tribute to him if all of us behave in an orderly fashion and observe the rule of law and not take the law into our own hands."
The chairperson of Malta, Mr Mathakha Maliaga, said that his association was saddened by the death of one of their own. He said their members were now working in constant fear, not knowing who would be next. "Makananisa was the pillar of our association and nobody will ever replace him."
Makananisa is survived by his wife and four children.
The spokesperson for the Tshilwavhusiku SAPS, Sgt Thilivhali Maloa, has appealed to the members of community to furnish the police with information that can help them to trace the suspects.