In what could be seen as a show of unity in the taxi industry and concern for safety amongst taxi drivers, thousands of drivers, owners and concerned members of the community converged at the Azwidohwi family homestead at Muledane outside Thohoyandou, to pay their last respects to the well-known slain taxi driver.

Nditsheni Azwidohwi (32), a married father of two, who was described by all as a good and a caring person, met his tragic end when three teenaged thugs boarded his taxi and robbed him, before shooting him to death in the Mutsha area last week. He was buried at the local cemetery during the weekend.

Speaker after speaker at the emotional funeral called for calm and for all to leave everything in the hands of the law. Family spokesperson Mr Jonathan Mabalama described the death as a big loss to the family. "This man was a different person, one of a kind, an unique person who was always ready to help each member of his family and whoever came to him for help. We have lost a great man, "he said.

Mabalama said the deceased had played a uniting role in the family and they all looked at him as exemplary, even though he was young. He said the family had accepted what happened and would just wait for the wheels of justice to move at their own pace. "Let us all be calm and not tarnish the good name Nditsheni had made for himself. It will be a fitting tribute to him if all of us behave in an orderly fashion and observe the rule of law and not take the law into our own hands".

Well-known cleric and head pastor at the United Apostolic Faith Church Pastor Ronald Mudimeli, who officiated at the funeral, said there was only one way the country could deal with the escalating crime and violence, which is to humble themselves before God and ask for forgiveness. He said all other efforts, be it by traditional leaders or leaders of the country, were failing to deal decisively with crime and bad behaviour. "All are concentrating on the physical being, forgetting that all thoughts, be they good or bad, come from within the spiritual being. Let us try and shape the spiritual person in such a way that he will learn to value life and other people’s possessions. The church is the only institution that is able to deal with this problem and come up with a tangible solution," he said.

The chairperson of the Vuwani Taxi Association, Mr Mavhungu Madzhie, said his association was saddened by the death of one of their own. He said his association had lost five members in recent times through crime and this had become a source of concern to them. He said their members worked in constant fear, not knowing who will be next. "We find ourselves in a very difficult situation which, if not solved as a matter of urgency, will leave us with no other option but to take the law into our own hands," he said.

Meanwhile, three suspects, two of them minors, including the son of a local traditional leader, Khosi Vho Netsianda, have been arrested and have since appeared in court.