Shooting in Lwandle claims life of taxi operator

Police are investigating a murder and two counts of attempted murder for investigation following a shooting incident on Monday, October 27, at around 5pm on the corner of Hlati Drive and Isikolo Street, Lwandle.

Police spokesperson Captain F.C. Van Wyk said a 44-year-old man was shot and fatally wounded, while two others, including a woman, were wounded in the incident.

“According to reports, police members attended to a complaint of a shooting incident at the mentioned address, and on arrival they found a white Toyota Quantum, with the victim behind the driver's seat with multiple gunshot wounds to the head and body,” he said. 

The injured victims were taken to the hospital, and the circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation.

The provincial branch of the South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO) said it was aware of the incident but was not in a position to comment.

Western Cape Mobility Department previously closed several mini-bus taxi routes in Cape Town for a period of 30 days, in response to ongoing violence in the industry, from Wednesday, September 17.

The MEC for mobility, Isaac Sileku, further published a notice of intent to extend the extraordinary measures to close the routes and lanes for a further 30 days on Friday, October 17.

“The decision to file a notice of intent extending the extraordinary measures is a proactive and precautionary step while dialogue continues. We will continue to closely monitor the situation and urge both associations to intensify their efforts to reach an agreement,” he said at the time.

However, a 32-year-old taxi boss was shot and killed on the R300 highway while travelling with his personal security detail on Monday, October 20. Both his bodyguards were injured in the attack and rushed to the hospital.

MEC Sileku called on the public and industry stakeholders to avoid speculation regarding the motive behind the incident. 

“We are not in a position to confirm whether the shooting is connected to the dispute between two mini-bus taxi associations affected by the extraordinary measures we were forced to take in temporarily closing ten routes and lanes for a period of a month,” he added.