Following a shooting incident yesterday (Wednesday 12 November), in which two women died and eight people were wounded, the Nyanga Community Policing Forum (CPF) has expressed doubts over whether taxi-related violence will ever end without government intervention, urging the deployment of more law-enforcement officers on the ground.
The shooting occurred when Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association (Cata) members were ambushed at Nyanga Taxi Rank while on their way to an association meeting at Airport Industria.
Nyanga CPF secretary Dumisani Qwebe said the community was devastated by the incident, describing it as a tragedy. He said it was reported unknown men got out of a bakkie and opened fire on a chartered Virgo bus with Cata members on board, who were about to set out for the meeting.
“This incident has left us with many questions now,” Qwebe said. “We are wondering if this taxi-related violence in the province will ever end. It is important for government officials, when mediating between the taxi associations, to involve community members because we are the ones most affected by it all.”
He said the Nyanga CPF will continue its efforts to mobilise other stakeholders to come on board to find a resolution these deadly conflicts within the taxi industry. This is especially so because the taxi industry has a positive impact on the economy, Qwebe said.
“The government must come up with a permanent solution to this (taxi) industry because it has a great impact on our local economy. There are many other businesses that are indirectly affected by these taxi-related wars. Think of the informal traders, car-wash businesses, restaurants at taxi ranks and so on that are affected.”
He urged taxi bosses to sit down and resolve whatever differences that they had.
Provincial police spokesperson Capt FC van Wyk confirmed the incident, saying Nyanga officers had registered two counts of murder and eight attempted murders for investigation.
“According to reports several unidentified suspects randomly shot at a taxi injuring several people, he said. “Nyanga officers were dispatched to the shooting incident immediately.
“There are currently 10 people shot in total, of whom two females were declared dead on the scene from wounds sustained. Seven other females and one male were treated for gunshot wounds by the emergency services and taken to nearby medical facilities.” Van Wyk added that the motive for the shooting was still under investigation.
