Extra security measures will be in place at Paarl and Bellville taxi ranks on Monday after a second taxi operator was shot dead.

A Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association (CATA) minibus operator was the second person to be killed when he came under fire in Paarl on Saturday.

The latest murder angered the Western Cape’s mobility department, especially given the work put in by all parties this week to stop the resurgence of the shootings.

“I am infuriated by this second violent minibus taxi-related crime in the area this week, which threatens commuters, the minibus taxi and public transport industry more broadly,” said Mobility MEC Ricardo Mackenzie.

“The minibus taxi industry must prioritise commuter safety with strong leadership and respect for the rule of law – anything less is a dereliction of their moral and legal duties.”

The department and taxi industry representatives were in meetings all week, and the SA National Taxi Council (Santaco) was consulted to get to the bottom of the flare-up.

In the meantime, extra security will be in place at Mbekweni in Paarl and the Bellville public transport interchange.

The Bellville to Paarl route has been a problem for transport authorities, with CATA and the Congress of Democratic Taxi Associations (Codeta) jostling for business.

At one point, all rights to the route were suspended.

On Tuesday, Siyabulela Mandyoli, the chairperson of the Codeta-Paarl Taxi Alliance, was shot dead.

Santaco’s Western Cape chairperson, Mandla Hermanus, said Mandyoli was regarded as a key figure in the negotiations between CATA and Codeta.

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Paarl Post reported on Saturday that the second shooting was on Jan van Riebeeck Road, opposite Dal Josaphat Stadium.

In May, CATA’s training officer, Charmaine Bailey, was shot dead while chairing a meeting at the association’s Wynberg Office.

News24