Detective-Sergeant Gerald Rapetswa is aware about the dangers associated with his job of pursuing hardcore taxi hitmen but he keeps on sending them to jail despite the death threats he always receives.
Rapetswa speaks with the measure of satisfaction as he reflects on the many dangerous crooks associated with the taxi industry he has put behind bars.
Only last week, Rapetswa scored another victory when he ensured that one of the feared hitmen Bonginkosi Mkhize was sentenced by the South Gauteng High Court to life in prison for the murder of Kempton Park taxi boss Johnson Mdaka, who was assassinated in 2018 at his home in Midrand.
Mkhize was sentenced on three counts, including the attempted murder of Mdaka's wife, who was shot alongside her husband in the car outside their home.
Just two weeks before Mkhize’s sentence, Rapetswa said he had managed to arrest one of the most wanted and dangerous hitmen of all time, Kwanda Dumakude, after months of investigations.
"I together with the taxi violence task team arrested Kwanda Dumakude and several of his accomplices for playing a huge role in the taxi murders between Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal," he says.
The top cop said Dumakude's trail of criminal activities include more than 10 murders of taxi bosses and cash in transit heists.
"Dumakude has been allegedly killing for more than 10 years. He has been running a syndicate of assassins that also work under him according to our investigation. He was arrested after a hit of a businessman that happened in Utrecht, near Newcastle in KZN.
Rapetswa said Dumakude had been used by taxi owners as a hitman in the taxi industry because of his experience in taxi killings.
"He is one of the most experienced hitmen in history. The man is a dangerous hitman whose name cannot be mentioned randomly. When I went to taxi ranks looking for him, people were scared to talk. He was glorified and highly feared for killings and organised cash-in-transit heists.”
Dumakude will be appearing in court for a bail application this week in the Benoni magistrate's court and the police are still investigating more cases that might be linked to him.
Dumakude has also been linked to the murder of KZN taxi boss Nsimbi Mpongose and that of his other business partners from Johhannesburg and KZN.
Explaining his constant pursuits of such highly feared hitmen, Rapetswa said he made a vow to die for the badge when he took an oath to serve the country in the South African police services.
"I have had numerous death threats by the suspects I chase but my passion for being an investigating officer never dies. I do want to ensure justice is served."
Rapetswa said one of the biggest highlights of his 16 years of service in the police was arresting and securing the conviction of a notorious criminal known as King of Bling, William Mbatha and also his arrest of another feared taxi boss Vusi "Khekhe" Mathibela, who operates in Mamelodi.
Rapetswa, a father of five, is originally from Limpopo. His police career began in 2006.
"My passion for chasing hardcore criminals grew bigger when I worked in Primrose, Germiston and Brackendowns until I moved to work in the provincial office.”
He grew up and finished school in Sekgosese, north of Tzaneen.
"My parents wanted me to be a teacher. I wanted to be a soldier when growing up but grabbed the opportunity to become a cop because I knew I wanted to serve and protect."
Rapetswa plays soccer to take a break from his dangerous and demanding job.
"I love my job and have dedicated my life to fighting crime in SA and ensuring that victims and families get justice."
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