Port Elizabeth – Controversial local tow truck operator Raven Rungan died from his wounds two-and-a-half weeks after being shot four times while he was on his way to work, police spokesperson Captain Johan Rheeder said on Saturday.
He had been in intensive care at Greenacres Hospital since the shooting.
Rungan was on his way to work at his company, V&R Towing, when he stopped at a three-way stop in Ben Fleur Road, Kamma Ridge, at 09:30 on Wednesday, September 16.
While stopped, a man walked over to Rungan, fired multiple shots into the vehicle, and then drove off in a white bakkie.
Rheeder said no arrests had yet been made and police were still hunting for the shooter. He said the case would now be upgraded to murder.
Rungan had been involved in a number of controversies in Nelson Mandela Bay and had been in and out of court over the past few months relating to a number of civil and criminal cases.
Threats
In January this year, Rungan was placed at the centre of a brewing tow truck war, with allegations of death threats, arson attacks and racism, and a monopoly between Nelson Mandela Bay’s notorious and highly lucrative tow truck and vehicle repair industry.
He was also accused of having assisted the now suspended Nelson Mandela Bay head of communication, Roland Williams, with submitting a fraudulent claim to Sanlam insurance.
It is alleged that Rungan instructed former employees of his tow truck company to damage Williams’ vehicle to make it look as if the vehicle had been in an accident.
In another case, Rungan faced charges of intimidation, crimen injuria and common assault following alleged threats made over the phone to a car assessment agent.
Among the alleged threats made, which were reportedly recorded, a man is heard saying: “I will fuck with your family now. Your life is fucked. I will get black people to rape you.”
Rungan was also facing a charge of culpable homicide after he allegedly hit and killed an 18-year-old Muir College pupil, Anre Grobbelaar, with his BMW M5 in Circular Drive in December 2010.
Source – News24
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