Taxi owners and drivers in Cape Town are living in fear as they are being killed by unknown people.
On Tuesday morning, 4 March, a 33-year-old taxi owner was shot and killed near the Ramaphosa informal settlement in Philippi, Cape Town, along Govan Mbeki Road.
He was one of the taxi owners responsible for regulating the routes, ensuring that private vehicles and unauthorised taxis did not pick up passengers.
The incident occurred while he was parking his bakkie alongside the road with a colleague.
A resident told Daily Sun that the victim consistently parked his vehicle at the traffic lights, always wearing his reflector jacket.
The resident further said the man was with another man.
“The gunmen emerged from between the shacks in Ramaphosa informal settlement, initially pretending to walk past, then turned and fired several shots at the victim.
“His partner narrowly avoided being hit by a passing car as he fled the scene,” said a witness.
Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association spokesman Nkululeko Sityebi confirmed that the victim was affiliated with their organisation and was responsible for regulating vehicles on Govan Mbeki.
Sityebi said the shooting had left them shocked.
“We also heard that the killers came from the shacks and shot at him before disappearing again. We do not know where these killings are coming from and even the motive behind them,” he said.
He said the killings in the taxi industry are now out of hand, and they are always looking over their shoulders.
“You never know who will be next.”
“It is difficult to do anything because you don’t even know where the killings are coming from and for what reasons.”
On Friday, 28 February, a taxi owner was shot and killed at Site C taxi rank while three passengers were injured during the incident.
Last month, a man was shot, and cops recovered several firearms at Nyanga Taxi Rank. Another taxi driver was shot and killed at a taxi rank in Strand in February.
Cops investigate possible taxi-related motives
Police spokesman Captain Frederick Van Wyk confirmed the incident.
“Nyanga police are investigating a murder case following a shooting incident on Tuesday, 4 March, at about 8.30am on Govan Mbeki Road, Browns Farm, Nyanga, where a 33-year-old man was shot and fatally wounded.
“According to reports, SAPS members attended a crime scene at the mentioned area and upon arrival, they found the body of a male with multiple gunshot wounds to the upper body. The deceased had a reflector jacket on.”
“It was alleged that he was regulating taxis. Circumstances surrounding this incident are under investigation. The possibility that the motive can be taxi-related will be investigated,” said Van Wyk.
