Deadly Sunday: Multiple shootings leave five dead

It was a deadly Sunday, with police visiting three different scenes where five people were shot and killed, including a taxi driver, and three others were wounded.

This occurred just days after Mobility MEC Isaac Sileku announced the decision to close several minibus routes following deadly clashes between the Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association (Cata) and the Cape Organisation for the Democratic Taxi Association (Codeta).

Five people were shot, in Europe, Gugulethu leaving two dead and three injured on Sunday and a taxi driver dead in Nyanga.

In a third shooting, two males were murdered in Barcelona Informal settlement which has been linked to extortion.

Two of the crime scenes have yet to be confirmed as linked to the ongoing taxi violence, but by Monday night, Cata and Codeta had not responded to the claims.

Police spokesperson, Sergeant Wesley Twigg confirmed that a taxi driver had been killed in Nyanga: “The circumstances surrounding a shooting incident on September 14, at about 19:45, in Ntlangano Street, Nyanga, where a 41-year-old male was shot and fatally wounded are under investigation. 

“The victim was a taxi driver.”

At an additional scene in Europe informal settlement, Twigg confirmed that a male and female were killed during a shooting incident and two males  between the ages of 18 and 32-years-old and an 18-year-old female wounded.

He said the motive for the attack forms part of the police investigation.

“The adult male and female were declared deceased on the scene by medical personnel, while the other victims were taken to a medical facility for treatment. 

“The suspect/s fled the scene and are yet to be arrested.”

At a third incident at Barcelona informal settlement, the bodies of two adult males were found with gunshot wounds.

Both Cata and Codeta did not respond to queries whether the incidents were linked to taxi violence when queried by the Cape Argus.

Last week, MEC Sileku said during Cabinet, the Western Cape Government a decision was made to institute Section 91 of the National Land Transport Act.

Sileku warned that the 30 days could be extended if the two associations don't find a resolution.

He said specified lanes at taxi ranks in Khayelitsha, Makhaza, Mfuleni, Somerset West, Nomzamo, and Lwandle would also face closure,

In the wake of taxi violence, at least seven people were killed and others left wounded.

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Cape Argus