Witwatersrand Taxi Driver Shot Dead Execution-Style, Lebohang Monama’s Murder Sparks Division Online
- Witwatersrand taxi driver, Lebohang Monama, was found dead a week after he was reported missing by his family
- The 37-year-old's taxi was set alight a day after he was last seen, but there was no trace of him at that stage
- South Africans weighed in on the murder, with many criticising those who celebrated the death of a taxi driver
Source: Facebook
Briefly News journalist Byron Pillay has dedicated a decade to reporting on the South African political landscape, crime, and social issues. He spent 10 years working for the Northern Natal Courier before transitioning to online journalism.
GAUTENG – The execution-style death of a taxi driver in the Gauteng province has sparked fears that tensions in the industry are far from over.
37-year-old Lebohang Monama’s body was found on the evening of Wednesday, 20 August, near a mine in Randfontein. His body was found a week after he had been reported missing, and police confirmed that he suffered a gunshot wound to the back of the head.
Police in Naledi have since opened a case and launched an investigation into Monama’s death.
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Monama’s taxi was found stripped and burned
The 37-year-old was originally reported missing on Thursday, 14 August 2025. He was last seen driving a white Toyota Quantum, and family members became concerned after they couldn’t reach him on his cellphone. Fears intensified when he didn’t hand over the earnings to the taxi owner after work and was nowhere to be found.
On Friday, 15 August, Monama's taxi was discovered burned in a field in Slovoville. It appeared to have been stripped before it was set alight. Despite the discovery of the taxi, there was no sign of Monama himself until community patrol members found his body near the mine.
Taxi association devastated by Monama’s death
The Witwatersrand Taxi Association (WATA), of which Monama was a member, is still coming to terms with his brutal murder. WATA spokesman Hamilton Miya told the Daily Sun that the association was devastated.
"Our hearts are broken. Not only was he killed, but his taxi was also torched. This is very painful," Miya said.
He added that the discovery of Monama left behind a deep wound, and was a tragedy not only for his family, but the entire taxi industry as well.
Speaking on behalf of the family, Mbali Gwebu described Monama as a cheerful person who was always laughing, adding that his murder was deeply heartbreaking for all of them.
Source: Facebook
How did South Africans react?
While the motive for the murder is not yet known, many believe it to be related to the ongoing tension between the taxi industry and e-hailing drivers.
While some welcomed the news because of the Maponya Mall attack, others reflected on the more tragic side of the story.
Constance Moeng said:
“The thing is, we are going to be caught in the crossfire as commuters.”
Dineo WaSeipati Maitsile noted:
“This thing is sad because families are losing breadwinners. Children will grow up without fathers😭.
Michael Kelynack stated:
“I don’t think this was the taxi / e-hailing issue. The taxi was stripped. A different group did this. Go after the Toyota syndicates. They are responsible for this one.”
Musa Milton Nobela noted:
“You might celebrate that it is good they killed him, only to find out he had nothing to do with the Uber thing. There are taxi drivers who are against the incident of an Uber driver being burned, even those who want the perpetrators to be brought to book. But nywe nywe it serves him right. Careful what you celebrate, it might come to your family. We will see how it will sit with you seeing your father or brother killed, then you see people commenting spiteful things. We will see how it will sit with you.”
Khathala Gertrude added:
“While reading these comments, I see that Ubuntu is gone. Guys, someone's child is dead, and we are finding that funny. What a doomed generation.”
Vicki De Villiers asked:
“When will this mayhem and madness stop?”
Mpho Modisha added:
“Fighting amongst ourselves is stupidity. Remember, those taxi drivers are our own brothers, siblings, cousins and uncles. We need to stop all this killing with immediate effect, as it bites us back.”
Mike Mashishi stated:
“This is war. Innocent people are still going to get killed. Imagine passengers getting killed in the crossfire.”
Ntandazo Jwambi noted:
“All of you retards that are celebrating must know that in situations and times like these, there are no real winners.”
Other stories about taxi violence
Briefly News reported that the attack at Maponya Mall, which left one person dead, sparked outrage online.
Community members vowed to close the mall and prevent taxis from operating there following the attack.
The Gauteng government established a task team to tackle the violence between the taxi and e-hailing industries.
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Source: Briefly News
