Strong reactions have emerged from authorities and community structures following a fatal shooting outside a school in Atlantis that claimed the lives of a 14-year-old learner and a scholar taxi driver. 

On Wednesday afternoon, an unknown man approached the taxi driver parked outside Atlantis Secondary School, who police say was waiting for children who were being transported after school had been dismissed.  

The gunman opened fire, killing the driver and a grade 8 learner. Police note that two other female learners, aged 14 and 16, also sustained gunshot wounds.  

Police confirmed that the Taxi Violence Investigations Unit is leading the probe. 

“[Officers] found the body of a 42-year-old male, laying in his vehicle. The deceased sustained multiple gunshot wounds to the back of his body (back and buttocks). The members further found another deceased a 14-year-old female laying inside the school yard. She sustained multiple gunshot wounds to her chest,” said Western Cape SAPS spokesperson Captain F.C. Van Wyk. 

There are conflicting reports on the exact number of learners injured in the shooting, with the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) noting that three learners were injured.

Nonetheless, the department’s Bronagh Hammond condemned the incident and extended the department’s condolences to those affected.  

“This is a shocking and utterly senseless act of violence that has devastated multiple families and an entire school community. The WCED is providing immediate support to the school, including counselling services for learners and staff,” said Hammond.  

Meanwhile, the management of Atlantis Secondary School noted that test and cultural activities scheduled for the coming days had been cancelled, considering the incident.  

The school also urged the local community to avoid speculation or sharing any footage of the incident.  

“This is a very sensitive time for the family, learners, educators, school staff and community. We would appreciate the support from the Atlantis community to support the school community as we believe that a school should be a safe space for learning,” the school’s statement read.  

The City of Cape Town has described the incident as an act of war on innocent communities. Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Mobility, Rob Quintas, said this is “the most unspeakable act ever seen in the long history of taxi industry related violence”.  

He further alluded to another recent fatal shooting, at a taxi rank, in the broader Atlantis region.  

“This comes on the back of armed gunmen opening fire and committing an act of double murder at the taxi rank in Witsand, exposing commuters to abject fear and trauma, it can only be described as terrorism,” said Quintas.  

The Atlantis Community Policing Forum (CPF) confirmed that the school incident is linked to ongoing taxi violence in the area. Spokesperson Noel Cloete shared more on the Witsand incident that occurred a day before.  

“An incident took place on Tuesday 24 February 2026 where 2 individuals were shot and killed at Witsand taxi rank in Atlantis. We cannot confirm or deny that these 2 incidents are related,” said Cloete. 

Quintas noted that the City’s Safety and Security Directorate would increase visibility in the area, and that his department would work with the Western Cape Mobility Department to address this incident and broader taxi-related conflict.  

“Conflict must be managed, and I call on the Taxi Industry to take note of the sentiments of residents in the area and assist authorities  in bringing those ruining lives, disrupting and terrorizing communities and tarnishing the image of the taxi industry as a whole to book, so that they may face the full might of the law.” 

Authorities have urged anyone with information to come forward as investigations continue.