Cape Town taxi industry violence escalates with five killings in one week
GUNNED DOWN: Taxi driver killed, then robbed
Image: Fight Against Crime SA
Two brutal murders in less than 24 hours raised the tally to five taxi industry-related killings in the last seven days, following three deaths last week.
On Sunday night, a 33-year-old taxi owner affiliated to the Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association (Cata) was shot and killed at 10.30pm while sitting inside his Toyota Fortuner in Mashakane Street, Lwandle, Somerset West.
Police spokesperson FC van Wyk confirmed that Lwandle police are investigating a case of murder.
Van Wyk said: “Circumstances surrounding a shooting incident on Sunday night at 10.30pm at Mashakane Street, Lwandle where the body of a 33-year-old male was found are under investigation.”
On Monday afternoon, a 29-year-old taxi driver was killed and his passengers robbed on Robert Sobukwe Road.
Police spokesperson Ndakhe Gwala confirmed a murder is under investigation.
Gwala said: “The 29-year-old victim sustained wounds on his upper body and succumbed a few metres from the scene. The suspects proceeded to rob the driver and the passengers before fleeing.”
The incident comes after a violent conflict between Cata and rival taxi association Cape Organisation for the Democratic Taxi Association (Codeta) that led to a government-enforced shutdown.
Cata spokesperson Nkululeko Siteyebi said: “We do not know what the shootings is all about. The whole year we have been dealing with killings of taxi owners and drivers, we do not know what is going to happen next year. We will have to talk about it in the new year.”
Provincial Mobility department spokesperson, Muneera Allie said they are aware of the shootings but are waiting on police to give them guidance.
“We are aware of some of the incidents. As to whether we can link or relate it to the challenges we had earlier, we are waiting on the reports from the SAPS investigations in order to determine that.
"Any loss of life on the road or violent acts is always a concern in the province but we have to wait for SAPS to complete the investigations so we can fully understand the cause of these incidents.”
Cape Times