Taxi-related shootings kills 4 in Cape Town

Cape Town police are probing cases of murder and attempted murder after 4 taxi operators were killed and 5 others seriously injured in separate incidents throughout Cape Town on Wednesday morning.

The incident is believed to be taxi-related violence.

‘’A 41-year-old taxi driver was behind the steering wheel of his vehicle on corners of De la Rey Road and Uitsig Avenue in Ravensmead when occupants from another taxi fired several gunshots at the taxi. The victim was transported to a nearby hospital for medical treatment. Ravensmead police are investigating a case of attempted murder,’’ said the police’s FC van Wyk

In an unrelated incident, a taxi was stationary in Potsdam Road, Du Noon at about 07:00. Van Wyk added said that the victim was seated inside the vehicle when unknown suspects fired random shots at the vehicle. A 35-year-old male was fatally wounded and declared dead on the scene by the medical personnel.

Meanwhile, at about 06:30, a taxi with occupants was standing at the intersection of New Eisleben and Sheffield Roads in Philippi East when a taxi with unknown occupants stopped next to them.

‘’The occupants fired numerous gunshots at the stationary vehicle. Two males aged 33 and 24 were declared deceased on the scene whilst two males both aged 35 were transported to a nearby hospital for medical treatment,’’ said van Wyk.

Furthermore, at about 08:15, commuters were standing on Duinefontein Road in Samora Machel. Unknown occupants in a vehicle fired numerous gunshots at the commuters and fled the scene in an undisclosed direction.

‘’One 40-year-old male was declared deceased on the scene by the medical personnel whilst two males aged 45 and 39 years old respectively sustained gunshot wounds and were transported to a nearby hospital for medical treatment. Samora Machel police are investigating a case of murder and two cases of attempted murder.’’

No arrests has been made as yet.

Anyone with information regarding these incidents is kindly requested to contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111.

The Western Cape’s Transport & Public Works MEC, Daylinn Mitchell says there is conflict between rival taxi ‘motherbodies’, CATA and Codeta.

‘’I have also called the leadership of the SA National Taxi Council (SANTACO), the Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association (CATA) and the Congress of Democratic Taxi Association (Codeta) to an urgent meeting where we will discuss interventions to stem the growing tide of violence between associations affiliated to the two motherbodies – with specific focus on violence associated with the fight for control over  routes,’’ says Mitchell.

‘’I have asked my officials to engage in a process to uncover the root causes behind the violent conflict and to engage all stakeholders before making recommendations towards a lasting peace and solution to conflict,’’ added Mitchell.

The latest incidents brings the total number of taxi-related murders in the Western Cape to 71 since the start of 2021, with attempted murders and injuries at 33 over the same period.

 

Done By: Mitchum George