Bozwana knew his life was in danger: Thandi Modise

North West businessman Wandile Bozwana knew he was going to be killed for his philosophies and ideas but refused to back down. That was the message conveyed by those who spoke during his funeral service in Pretoria on Saturday.

Thandi Modise told mourners that Bozwana once told her that he knew he would be killed.

“He said to me, I know I’m going to be killed. I asked him then why don’t you desist. He said I have a son, I am a man. There is a time when people must stand up and this is the time,” said Modise.

Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula, who attended in his personal capacity, also shared a similar encounter with Bozwana and he told him that he was having problems.

“He came to me and said I have problems and I’m going to fight. I feel that what I have worked so hard for is being taken away from me. I will fight for what is duly mine. He joined the Business Forum and I told him to leave such forums alone and he said he wanted to be treated fairly,” said Mbalula.

Phenomenon

Northern Cape premier Silvia Lucas also recounted a similar discussion with Bozwana. She said during one of their meeting, he mentioned that he was going to be killed.

“When I said to him, because you know they want to kill you, but then you must be more careful. He said he was a strong man and if I must die, I will die but they must know, they will not kill my ideas. They will never kill what I stood for,” she said.

Bozwana was shot and killed in what many people, including his family, believe was a hit. He died in hospital on October 2.

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.

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.

Mbalula called for the speedy arrest of those behind the killing.

“The killers of Bozwana must be found. This phenomenon of killing others must stop,” he said.

Mbalula called on people to desist from conspiracy theories regarding the killing. He said people should take information to police to assist in their investigations. He added that the person who pulled the trigger must reveal who paid him for crime.

“We don’t want the man who pulled the trigger but the one behind him. We want to know why he killed him. Was it for political reasons or business? We want the truth because the truth shall set us free.

“They must know they killed an innocent man and they are cowards. We believe in our strength and that of God, they will be found and locked up for a long time. This is how we will avenge the life of Bozwana,” said Mbalula.

Source: News24