Police probe link between hit on Wandile Bozwana and attempted murder of employee

Police are investigating the possibility of a link between the killing of North West businessman Wandile Bozwana and the recent attempted hit on one of his employees.

Piet Brink, a chief financial officer at two of Bozwana’s companies, was almost killed two days after the shooting that led to his boss’s death. Brink told News24 that he was not ready to speak about the incident.

"My family and I have been through a traumatic experience in the past few days. I have already received exposure and at this stage I don’t want any more exposure. I will gladly comment on the matter once all the dust has settled down," he said.

The alleged attempted hit on Brink occurred at the same off-ramp where Bozwana was shot and killed in what many people, including the family, believe was a hit. He died in hospital on Friday night.

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.

Nine bullets hit Bozwana

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.

While driving back from his office on Sunday afternoon just after 14:00, Brink soon realised he was being followed. As he was approaching the turn-off to Garsfontein, a car allegedly pulled up alongside him.

The passenger in the car then rolled down his window. Brink saw one person with a gun. He applied the brakes before speeding off. He passed the Garsfontein off-ramp and went to Atterbury.

As he was driving, he heard a gunshot and proceeded to the police station to report the matter. The bullet did not hit his car.

Police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Lungelo Dlamini confirmed that police were investigating the two incidents.

No arrests

He added that no arrests had been made at this stage.

Earlier in the week the Bozwana family told News24 they were troubled by the incident and the police’s investigations.

Spokesperson for the family, Benedict Bozwana, said the longer it took to make arrests, the more lives may be in danger.

Bozwana was known as an outspoken businessman, ANC funder and former provincial treasurer in the North West. He took the provincial government to court on numerous occasions.

As police are still trying to ascertain the motive for the killing, social media has been abuzz with many questioning and making speculations. Among them was North West ANC deputy chairperson China Dodovu who penned an open letter on his Facebook page addressed to the Constitutional Court judges that heard the case.

Conspiracy theories

"On Tuesday, September 29, 2015 I visited for the first time the Constitutional Hill where I attentively listened to brilliant legal arguments in the matter involving the North West Provincial Government and Others [applicant] versus Tsoga Developers and others who included Wandile Bozwana [respondents]."

"Three days later, Friday October 2, 2015, the body of Wandile Bozwana, [the respondent] was lying motionlessly in the streets of Pretoria in the lake of blood where he succumbed, bleeding under the cruelty of his assassins, the hit men," he said in the letter.

"I am painstakingly writing this letter to you with tears rolling down my face, asking myself if the motive for killing Wandile Bozwana has any connection with the matter you presided over three days before his assassination or what? As you interrogate this matter which you reserved, I urge you to also ask yourselves the same question."

North West Premier Supra Mahumapelo has called for calm and urged people to refrain from spreading conspiracy theories regarding the killing of Wandile Bozwana.

Source: News24