Ongoing taxi violence in Strand: Another driver shot amid escalating conflict
Police and crime scene investigators at the Mfuleni taxi rank after a tragic shooting claimed four lives and left three others wounded.
Image: Henk Kruger/Independent Newspapers
Ongoing taxi violence in Strand has lead to the shooting of another taxi driver who was wounded on Tuesday in Lwandle ahead of Thursday's Task Team meeting.
The shooting takes place amid the ongoing conflict between rival taxi associations Cape Congress of Democratic Taxi Associations (Codeta) and the Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association (Cata) regarding routes.
Police spokesperson, FC van Wyk, said Lwandle SAPS are investigating a case of attempted murder after the 62-year-old man was shot in the upper body in Richmond Street.
“This office can confirm that a case of attempted murder was registered at Lwandle police following a shooting incident at about 6:32pm at Richmond Street, Nomzamo.
“According to reports the 62-year-old male was arriving at the mentioned address when he was approached by unidentified suspect/s who shot him and fled the scene.
"The victim was shot in the upper body and was taken to a nearby medical facility for treatment.”
Police are requesting anyone who might have information regarding the incident to contact Lwandle police detective branch commander, Captain Caroline Calitz on 082 469 7454 or Crime Stop on 08600 10111.
Cata spokesperson, Nkululeko Sityebi, confirmed the driver who was shot is a member of Cata.
The taxi war has already left a trail of devastation, triggered by a mass shooting at the Mfuleni taxi rank where four people died and three were wounded last Friday.
Last Saturday, an 8-year-old boy was wounded by a stray bullet in Lwandle, Strand, when another taxi driver was killed.
On Monday night, another driver was gunned down in Langa.
Ahead of Thursday’s meeting with the taxi factions, Western Cape Mobility MEC,Isaac Sileku, said: “I call on all role players to remain calm and allow the law to take its course. We must never accept violence as a way to resolve disputes.”
Western Cape Police Oversight and Community Safety MEC, Anroux Marais, confirmed that SAPS investigations are ongoing, and Law Enforcement presence in affected areas has been intensified.
Additional police resources, including City of Cape Town Law Enforcement and Provincial Traffic, have also been deployed.
High-density patrols are being conducted along key routes between Somerset West and Mfuleni to stabilise the situation and prevent any further violence.
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