By Everson Luhanga
A fully loaded taxi en route to Alexandra via Sandton from the eSangweni taxi rank in Tembisa South was met by heavy gunfire on Tuesday that killed the driver and a woman passenger.
A gang of heavily armed men blocked the taxi’s path soon after it left the rank and started firing at the driver.
He was hit multiple times and died on the scene. A woman passenger sitting in the front was also fatally hit.
There was panic and screaming when the shooting started.
The gunmen drove off in a white Quantum minibus and the traumatised passengers scrambled for their lives out of the blood-spattered vehicle.
The passenger and driver were declared dead at the scene by paramedics.
It is suspected the deadly incident was fuelled by a dispute over routes between two competing taxi associations.
This is not the first time in the area that taxi owners have fought over routes. There have been several other shootings connected to route-related taxi disputes.
Gauteng provincial police spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi confirmed the incident and said police are investigating two cases of murder.
Nevhuhulwi said the motive for the shooting was unknown at this stage.
“No suspects have been arrested as yet. Police investigation continues,” she said.
Pictured above: The scene of the taxi shooting is cordoned off by police tape.
Source: Mfanelo Dzanibe
