The Provincial Detectives Serious and Violent Crimes Taxi Unit is probing the circumstances surrounding two separate shooting incidents, which claimed the lives of three adults and injured six men.
The first incident took place on the corner of Japhta M Masemola and Spine roads in Khayelitsha and the second at a taxi rank in Ngqwangi Drive, Philippi East.
Provincial police spokesperson Lt Col Malcolm Pojie said the information related that on Monday 25 August, around 07:30, unknown armed men opened fire and shot six adults aged 35 to 43, two of whom died, one at the scene and the other declared dead at the hospital.
“Four injured men were transported to a medical facility, of whom three taxi drivers were in a critical condition and a passenger in a stable condition, following a shooting incident at a taxi rank in Ngqwangi Drive, Philippi East,” said Pojie.
He said Philippi East police opened two counts of murder and four of attempted murder.
He said the incident followed another earlier that morning, around 05:40, on the corner of Japhtha K Masemola Drive and Spine roads, Khayelitsha.
“Preliminary information said two armed men came to the Vuyani taxi rank and opened fire, killing a taxi driver and wounding two others, who were transported to a medical facility. Khayelitsha Police Station registered one count of murder and two of attempted murder,” he said.
Pojie emphasised the motives for these attacks were believed to be taxi conflict-related.
A community leader of Philippi East speaking on condition of anonymity, described the incident as terrible. He expressed concern for commuters who would certainly be affected by this.
“These taxi wars end up affecting the passengers, so we appeal to the taxi owners to sit down and resolve their differences before they get worse,” he appealed.
