KZN Police Arrest Suspected Hitman in Montclair Taxi Murder Case
KZN Police Arrest Suspected Hitman in Montclair Taxi Murder Case. Detectives from the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Taxi Violence Unit have arrested a suspected hitman believed to be linked to a brutal taxi-related killing in Montclair last month.
Swift Operation Leads to Key Arrest in Umlazi
The suspect, 32-year-old Qaphelani Nyawose, was taken into custody during a police operation in Umlazi on August 28 2025. He faces charges in connection with the murder of Mr Mohammed Abdul Hammid, who was gunned down on July 17 2025.
In a statement released by the Office of the Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service in KwaZulu-Natal, Mr Hammid and his wife had gone to a fast-food outlet in Montclair to meet a taxi owner who had allegedly promised him a work permit to join a local taxi association. While his wife stepped inside the store, Hammid remained in his blue BMW.
“A white Ford Ranger with four occupants arrived, and the occupants opened fire at Mr Hammid without saying a word. He was declared dead at the scene, and his licensed firearm was found in his possession,” said police in a statement.
Metro Police officers in the area spotted the fleeing Ford Ranger speeding recklessly along South Coast Road. A high-speed chase ensued before the suspects abandoned the vehicle. Some fled on foot, while others escaped in a red Toyota Etios. Inside the abandoned vehicle, officers recovered an R5 rifle with two magazines and an additional handgun magazine.
The case was transferred to the Taxi Violence Unit, which identified two suspects from Umlazi’s Section A through forensic evidence recovered from the vehicle.
During the operation earlier this week, police arrested Nyawose at his Umlazi premises. Another man was also detained after being found in a vehicle that was reported stolen in Bayview earlier this month. He now faces charges of possession of a suspected stolen vehicle.
Nyawose appeared briefly in the Durban Magistrate’s Court on August 29 2025. He was remanded in custody and is expected back in court on September 5 2025 for a bail hearing.
Police confirmed that a manhunt is still under way for the remaining three suspects linked to Hammid’s murder.
Escalating Taxi Violence in KZN Prompts Crackdown
This arrest highlights the ongoing scourge of taxi-related violence in KwaZulu-Natal, a province plagued by deadly turf wars over routes, associations, and business interests. For those unfamiliar, taxi violence in South Africa often stems from competition between minibus taxi operators, leading to assassinations, ambushes, and mass shootings that claim innocent lives and disrupt communities.
In recent months, KZN has seen a spike in such incidents, with police stepping up efforts through specialised units like the Taxi Violence Task Team. Just last week, two convicted hitmen linked to similar crimes were sentenced to double life terms plus 80 years each for murder and robbery in Pietermaritzburg. These men were part of a string of attacks targeting taxi operators, underscoring the organised nature of the violence.
The Montclair killing fits a pattern where victims are lured under false pretences, such as job offers or meetings, only to be executed. Hammid’s case echoes others, like the 2018 Colenso massacre where 11 taxi operators were ambushed and killed while returning from a funeral. That incident prompted national intervention, but violence persists, with over 100 taxi-related murders reported in KZN since 2022 alone.
Experts point to underlying issues like unregulated routes, corruption within associations, and links to criminal syndicates. The South African National Taxi Council has called for better regulation, but enforcement remains challenging. Police have made strides, with over 50 arrests in taxi violence cases this year, including high-profile hits tied to rival groups.
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