Ben Gumbi was shot dead outside a restaurant in Rustenburg, North West.

• The man accused of murdering North West businessman Ben Gumbi has had his bail application reopened.
• Gumbi was gunned down outside a restaurant in full view of patrons and staff in Rustenburg on 23 August.
• Sibongiseni Ngubane wants to continue working as an Uber driver while out on bail.

The man who was allegedly caught on video shooting Rustenburg businessman Ben Gumbi wants to continue working as an Uber driver as staying behind bars means he suffers a loss of income.

On Monday, Sibongiseni Ngubane, 33, testified in the Rustenburg Magistrate's Court that his life would not be endangered should he be granted bail.

The court previously heard that there may be a threat on Ngubane's life from the three other people suspected of killing Gumbi in the Rustenburg CBD on 23 August.

According to North West National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Henry Mamothame, Ngubane said he is an e-hailing cab driver who was hired to drive people to Rustenburg on the day of Gumbi's death.

Gumbi was killed by two men in full view of a restaurant's patrons and staff shortly after he arrived at the establishment. Video footage of the shooting went viral on social media.

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The gunmen fled the scene in a blue Volkswagen Polo that was found abandoned nearby a few minutes later. The car was confirmed to have been stolen and its number plates were fake.

Ngubane was arrested by a multi-disciplinary team on 12 September in Germiston, after attending a court case in which he is facing a charge of armed robbery, where he is out on R3 000 bail.

He also has a pending case of possession of a firearm and ammunition in Alberton, wherein he was granted R1 000 bail.

Mamothame said that, during cross-examination, the State asked Ngubane why he used a stolen vehicle during the commission of the crime instead of his registered Uber vehicle and he responded that he was just hired to transport people to Rustenburg. 

He was further interrogated on the R15 000 which he alleges was his payment for the transport service.

Mamothame said the investigating officer previously urged the court to consider the seriousness of the offence Ngubane is facing - a schedule 6 offence of premeditated murder.

The investigating officer also said the three other suspects were on the run and may endanger Ngubane's life.

"The accused was pointed out at an identity parade by several witnesses. The State further highlighted the community's interest in the matter following the circulation of a recording of the alleged incident on social media platforms.

"The State also urged the court to consider the gruesome manner in which the alleged murder was committed," said Mamothame.

The matter has been postponed to Thursday for closing arguments.

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Police investigations are under way to track down the three other suspects.

News24 previously reported that Gumbi had reportedly received death threats over a land development dispute.

Videos Gumbi recorded and posted online weeks before his murder suggest that he knew of a possible threat to his life.

In one video, he spoke about the pending development of a smart city near Sun City in Ledig, Rustenburg.

"Kubu [Gumbi's company] has rights over the land, and no threat will stop what needs to be done there regarding the development.

"Those are the rights we have, legally so. The issue that the Gumbi homestead will be burnt and that I will be burnt will not stop the development. Nothing will stop the development. The development will go ahead. Do what you want to do and the law will take its course," Gumbi said in the video.