HELDERBERG – A third fatal shooting in less than 48 hours has intensified concerns over escalating taxi-related violence in Lwandle, after three men were killed in separate incidents between Friday evening and Saturday night.

The latest shooting occurred in Asanda Village, Lwandle, on Saturday 4 July. It follows two other incidents in the Lwandle area on the same morning and the previous day (Friday 3 July).

Western Cape police spokesperson Sergeant Wesley Twigg said: “Lwandle police registered a murder case for investigation following a shooting incident on Saturday evening (4 July) at 19:45, in Mandla Street, Asanda Village, where a 53-year-old man was shot and fatally wounded.”

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Under siege

He said police members responded to the scene, where they found the victim with a gunshot wound to his body.

“The victim was declared deceased on the scene by medical personnel. The motive for the attack is yet to be determined. The suspect(s) fled the scene and are yet to be arrested,” Twigg said.

The latest killing follows another fatal shooting on Saturday morning at about 06:20 on the corner of Micheal and Onverwaght Roads in Lwandle.

“The circumstances surrounding a shooting incident on Saturday morning about 06:20, on the corner of Michael and Onverwacht roads, Lwandle, where a 44 year old male was shot and fatally wounded are under investigation,” Twigg previously told NovaNews.

Police members responded to the scene, but the victim had already been transported to a medical facility, where he later died. According to Twigg, “the motive for the attack is believed to be taxi related”.

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More shootings

In the deadly incident on Friday evening, police responded to a shooting in Onverwacht Road at 20:00.

“Upon arrival on the scene they found an adult male who sustained fatal gunshot wounds to his body and another male who was wounded.”

The deceased was declared dead at the scene, while the injured victim was taken to hospital for treatment.

“The suspects fled the scene with two Toyota Quantum minibus taxis that was parked outside the car wash. One minibus taxi was later recovered in Strand,” Twigg said.

Although police have confirmed only that the second shooting is believed to be taxi-related, the three fatal shootings within two days have raised concerns about ongoing violence in the local taxi industry.

Four more suspected taxi industry-related incidents in the Helderberg on Monday 29 and Tuesday 30 June, and another incident in Khayelitsha on 30 June.

Provincial police confirmed these incidents left one man dead and at least six others wounded, with the fatal shooting occurring on Tuesday evening in Walter Sisulu Road, Khayelitsha.

The violence also included a shooting in Strand involving two security guards in a minibus taxi, a separate taxi attack near a Firgrove service station, and shooting at a taxi rank in Khayelitsha’s Mandela Park on Monday.

No arrests have been made in any of the cases.

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