The Western Cape SAPS has confirmed that at least two people were injured in a shooting at the Palm taxi rank in Delft on Wednesday morning.
As at 09:42 on 28 October, the taxi rank was cordoned off, with Public Order Police and other law enforcement agencies still on the scene monitoring the situation.
This is amid what appears to be escalating tensions in the taxi industry, following multiple suspected taxi-related shootings reported across Cape Town.
On Tuesday alone, industry-related violence was reported in Gugulethu, Khayelitsha and Mfuleni.
The shootings began in Mfuleni, with several separate shootings reported between 04:55 and 06:20 that morning. Western Cape SAPS spokesperson, Thembakazi Mpendukana, said police attended to three different crime scenes during that time, with the first incident reported on Usompempe Street. She said a 36-year-old man was shot there.
Officers were then dispatched to the corner of Minister and Nqubelani Street in Mfuleni, where a 42-year-old man sustained gunshot wounds to his upper body.
“His Toyota Quantum had eight bullet holes,” added Mpendukana.
The final victim in the Mfuleni shootings was a 27-year-old man, who was also shot while in his taxi on the corner of Parliament Avenue and Incora Street. Mpendukana said his vehicle also had four bullet holes in it.
“All three victims were rushed to the nearest medical facilities for treatment. The motive is believed to be taxi-violence related, additionally no arrest has been made yet and investigation continues,” said Mpenduka.
Hours later, two counts of murder and one of attempted murder were registered in Gugulethu, after three men were shot in NY1 and NY3A just before 15:00. Western Cape SAPS spokesperson, Sergeant Wesley Twigg, said two of the men were declared dead on the scene, while the third victim was transported to hospital.
“The circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation. The motive for the attack is believed to be taxi related,” said Twigg.
About an hour and 45 minutes after this, a man was fatally shot in a minibus taxi on Japhta K Masemola Street in Khayelitsha.
“Police members were called to the crime scene where they found the victim in a Toyota Quantum minibus taxi with gunshot wounds to his body,” noted Twigg, adding that this incident is also believed to be linked to taxi-related violence.
No arrests have been made in any of the mentioned cases, as police continue investigations.
These latest shootings follow similar, but separate, incidents of violence in Hermanus, Retreat and Epping, for which police confirmed several arrests on Monday.
In response to the violence in the Overstrand, the Provincial Government confirmed that the Western Cape High Court issued an order to prohibit the CATA and Overstrand taxi associations from intimidating commuters, carrying firearms, blocking roads and engaging in violence between their members, among other things. The associations there are clashing over operating routes.
“What has been particularly disturbing is the carrying of firearms at taxi ranks, the demanding of fees from legally authorised operators and preventing taxis without certain stickers from picking up or dropping off residents. These practices pose a serious risk to public safety, disrupt transport services and cannot be condoned. We have taken this action for the residents of Overstrand. No resident should be denied access to transport or placed in danger because of disputes within the taxi industry. Our goal is to protect lawful taxi operators and the residents who rely on their services to get to work, school and other essential destinations. This court order sends a clear message that intimidation, violence and interference with lawful transport services will not be tolerated. Residents must be able to travel freely and safely,” said Sileku.
*This article has been updated to include information on the latest shooting in Delft.
