Provincial police are investigating a series of shooting incidents in Khayelitsha and Philippi East, in which three taxi drivers were fatally wounded and four others sustained gunshot wounds, on Wednesday 28 October.
Police detail sequence of attacks
Provincial police spokesperson Col André Traut said in Site B, Khayelitsha a 35-year-old taxi driver was shot and fatally wounded when driving a minibus taxi in Japhta K Masemola Street at approximately 18:30. He said the driver was declared dead at the scene by medical personnel.
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“In Philippi East a 32-year-old taxi driver was shot and wounded in Govan Mbeki Road at approximately 18:20 and transported to a medical facility afterwards. At approximately 23:04 another 35-year-old taxi driver sustained gunshot wounds to his face and body while driving a minibus taxi in Lower Crossroads. He was also transported to a medical facility for treatment.
“In Browns Farm a 22-year-old taxi driver was shot and fatally wounded at his residence in Buhlungu Street at approximately 21:00. He was declared deceased at the scene by medical personnel. Later that evening, at approximately 23:28, a 34-year-old taxi driver was fatally wounded and another adult male injured when they came under attack while travelling in a minibus taxi in Boston Road, Browns Farm. The taxi driver was declared deceased at the scene, while the injured man was transported to a medical facility for treatment.”
Traut said in a separate incident on the corner of Govan Mbeki and Sheffield roads a 35-year-old taxi driver sustained a gunshot wound to his back. He said the driver was transported to a medical facility for treatment.
The Provincial Taxi Unit is investigating the shooting incidents. No arrests have been made at this stage, and investigations are ongoing.
SAPS and City commit to tackling taxi violence
Western Cape Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Sizakhele Dyantyi, together with provincial management, attended a media briefing on Thursday, 29 October, with City of Cape Town Safety and Security representatives Vincent Botto, Commissioner Johan Brandt and Wayne Le Roux to address taxi violence and related challenges affecting the public transport sector.
The briefing highlighted the importance of cooperation between law enforcement agencies and relevant stakeholders in tackling violence and ensuring the safety of commuters, public transport operators and communities.
SAPS and the City of Cape Town reaffirmed their commitment to coordinated operational efforts, including targeted deployments and visible policing, to prevent and respond to taxi violence, apprehend those responsible and protect members of the public who rely on public transport.
SAPS said it would continue working with its partners to combat violent crime and promote safer public transport across the Western Cape.
Community leaders condemn the violence
The spate of shootings has also drawn strong condemnation from community leaders, who have called for urgent action to end the violence.
Khayelitsha Safety and Security Forum chair Bonga Zamisa condemned the taxi violence and urged Mayco member for Safety and Security JP Smith and Provincial Minister of Mobility Isaac Sileku to act before it is too late. “One life lost is one too many,” he declared.
“We are appealing to the City to repair the CCTV cameras or install new cameras. We believe that if there were cameras in our community some of the perpetrators would have been arrested by now because they would have been recognised.” He stated that they are concerned about the learners who are writing final exams because they will be disrupted.
Nyanga Community Policing Forum chair Dumisa Qwebe urged the taxi industry to sit down and resolve their problems amicably. “We are appealing to taxi associations to think of the families that lost their members because of them. They need to sit down and resolve whatever problem they have, instead of killing each other. Enough is enough.”
Anyone with information that could assist the police in these investigations is urged to contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or submit information anonymously via the MySAPS mobile application.
