The Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) leadership and students, Uber/Taxify drivers and civil rights movement #NOTINMYNAME, joined forces to march for Siyabonga Langelihle Ngcobo (21), who was allegedly burnt alive and put in the trunk of an Uber/Taxify car allegedly by meter taxi drivers early this month.
Mr Ngcobo, a fourth year student at TUT, was working as a part-time Uber/Taxify driver to earn extra money.
The protest started at TUT Arcadia campus to corner or Normaal Street and Willow Road in Sunnyside where Mr Ngcobo met his untimely death.
Ms Nobuhle Mbonambi, the aunt to the late Siyabonga, came through with two of his uncles to support the march. She said It has been eight days and it is still not known who killed their son.
Thando Bayisa a classmate and friend of the late Mr Ngcobo, described him as a person that was always smiling, down to earth, welcoming, humble and a senior that was kind to his juniors.
“He was a fighter and reaching up to his dreams, and someone had to come and take that away from him. It is not nice! These people have to pay! Meter taxis have to shut down!” said Bayisa.
Mr Themba Masango, the secretary general of #NOTINMYNAMESA said they were at the march to seek justice for Siyabonga. “We are saying justice delayed is justice denied. We are calling all law enforcement agencies to act, “he said.
Mr Chris Mzwali ,of the Uber/Taxify said they want to send a message to the justice system and the police in the Gauteng province that they (Uber/Taxify drivers) are dying and they should start doing something. “We are really angry about the situation,” he said.
Chief Executive Officer of #NOTINMYNAMESA, Mr Siya Jentile, said the ministry of transport and the government in general should intervene. He called for unity and said if the government is unable to settle the matter, it should tell them and they will mobilize masses on the ground and seek justice the only way they know how.
Mr Jentile also gave the government an ultimatum by saying: “We are giving you five days, next week Friday by 12 o’clock, tell us who killed Siya, failure to do so, we are going to them and kill them!”
Jentile together with Masango, however did say that the kill them statement was not meant to incite any form of violence it was meant in a figurative way.
Sthembiso KaShandu who was also part of the organising of the march said, “On behalf of the student community we wish to indicate that we are not happy. We are here to march because someone decided to take a life of a young 21-year-old man.
Shandu expressed that the nation lost a person who was to bring about change into young people’s lives, as he would have employed them since he had his own events management company.
