Nyanga police are investigating at least four murders, and one attempted murder, following shooting incidents in the precinct since last Wednesday night, 10 September. At least three of these incidents are related to the ongoing taxi conflict.

In the first in the string of shootings, a 61-year-old man, reportedly CATA’s first deputy chairperson Mnikeli Mgope, was shot and fatally wounded at the Nyanga taxi rank at about 20:10 on Wednesday.

Police members were busy with patrols when they heard gunshots. The officers drove in the direction of the taxi rank, where they found the victim with multiple gunshot wounds to his body. He was reportedly shot in his Toyota Fortuner.

Ten minutes later at 20:20, in Amsterdam Road, Brown’s Farm, two men were shot.

A 42-year-old man was fatally wounded, while a 34-year-old man was injured. Police confirmed that the motive for this attack is also taxi-related.

Then on Sunday, 14 September, a 41-year-old taxi driver, also believed to be affiliated to CATA, was shot and killed in Ntlangano Street, Nyanga.

CATA earlier told the media that this particular shooting is not related to the ongoing taxi conflict. Spokesperson Nkululeko Sityebi was quoted as saying that while the victim was shot eight times in his taxi, no one else was in the vehicle.

Sityebi added that this was an isolated shooting incident. The police’s preliminary investigation suggests that the victim argued with the suspect before he was shot.

On Tuesday morning, 16 September, another taxi-related shooting was recorded in Nyanga. A 61-year-old man, a CATA-affiliated taxi executive, was shot and killed in Dlephu Street, Browns Farm. Police have not made arrests for any of the shootings.

CATA has confirmed that the victims include a member of the working committee, a driver and two CATA Regional Executive members.

The conflict between CATA and Codeta over the Khayelitsha/Mfuleni to Somerset West routes has resulted in at least five other deaths in recent weeks, which brings the total death toll to at least nine drivers.

The Western Cape Government last week took the decision to close 10 disputed routes for 30 days. That comes into effect tomorrow, 17 September.

ALSO READ: Looming taxi route shutdown; City set to monitor routes

As a reminder, these are the routes that will be closed:

• Route M18: Mfuleni – Somerset West
• Route 43: Lwandle – Khayelitsha via Somerset West
• Route 611: Khayelitsha – Somerset West
• Route X19: Nomzamo – Mfuleni
• Route AA20: Khayelitsha – Somerset West via Vergelegen
• Route R96: Khayelitsha – Somerset West via Somerset Mall
• Route AA21: Khayelitsha – Sitari Village Mall (drop-off)
• Route R97: Khayelitsha – Somerset West (drop-off only)
• Route YEX63: Mfuleni – Somerset West (drop-off only)
• Route YEX64: Mfuleni – Somerset West (drop-off only)

Specified lanes at taxi ranks in Khayelitsha, Makhaza, Mfuleni, Somerset West, Nomzamo and Lwandle will also be closed.