CAPE TOWN – The ongoing taxi violence that has terrorised Cape Town’s transport sector claimed another victim on Monday, as a 44-year-old taxi owner was gunned down in Lwandle in what appears to be the latest casualty in the city’s spiralling transport crisis.
Lwandle police have opened a murder docket and two counts of attempted murder following the shooting incident that occurred at 17:00 on the corner of Hlati Drive and Isikolo Street. The victim was found behind the wheel of a white Toyota Quantum minibus taxi with multiple gunshot wounds to the head and body, while two others – the taxi driver and a female bystander – were rushed to a nearby medical facility for treatment.
Provincial police spokesperson Captain FC van Wyk confirmed that circumstances surrounding the shooting remain under investigation, with the motive forming part of ongoing police inquiries.
Monday’s shooting adds to a growing list of taxi-related killings that have plagued Cape Town throughout 2024, as rival taxi associations CATA (Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association) and CODETA (Cape Organisation for the Democratic Taxi Association) remain locked in a violent turf war.
The incident comes barely a week after another taxi boss was shot dead, highlighting the persistent instability in the industry despite recent government interventions. That killing occurred just 72 hours after the Western Cape government lifted month-long restrictions on certain taxi routes – restrictions that had been imposed in September following a surge in taxi violence that left multiple industry officials dead.
The provincial government had invoked Section 91 of the National Land Transport Act to shut down selected minibus taxi routes for 30 days, hoping to break the cycle of retaliation between the rival associations. However, the resumption of violence immediately after the restrictions were lifted has raised serious questions about the effectiveness of such interventions.
Ward 86 councillor Xolani Diniso expressed shock at Monday’s incident, describing it as deeply concerning for the community. “According to the information that I received, the deceased was a taxi owner and one of the two people injured was the driver, with the woman being an innocent bystander,” Diniso said.
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While unable to confirm whether the shooting was directly linked to the broader taxi violence, Diniso made an urgent appeal to industry leaders. “I call on taxi bosses to sit down and resolve whatever problems they have within the industry because innocent people are being affected,” he said.
The recurring violence has put immense pressure on the Western Cape government, which has struggled to find lasting solutions to the taxi wars. Despite peace summits and intervention attempts, the cycle of killings continues to disrupt public transport and endanger commuters’ lives.
The taxi industry plays a crucial role in Cape Town’s transport network, moving thousands of commuters daily. However, disputes over routes, territories, and operating permits have repeatedly erupted into deadly conflicts that have claimed dozens of lives over the past year.
As investigations into Monday’s shooting continue, authorities face mounting pressure to develop more effective strategies to end the violence that has turned Cape Town’s taxi industry into a battleground.
Police are appealing to anyone with information about the Lwandle shooting to contact the investigating officer or Crime Stop on 08600 10111.
