By Everson Luhanga
Two taxi operators belonging to the Greater Alberton Taxi Association were gunned down in Germiston on Thursday.
Gauteng provincial police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo said police were on the lookout for the suspects.
“It is reported that the victims were inside the car when they were shot. The motive for the killing cannot be confirmed at this stage, although it is suspected to be related to taxi violence. Both deceased are said to be members of the local taxi association,” said Masondo.
A source who was at the scene and belongs to the same taxi association as the two murdered drivers identified one of the victims as Jabu Dlamini, a taxi owner.
He said Dlamini and his colleague were killed in Power Street next to a golf course in Germiston.
“Jabu Dlamini, who was the driver, was inside a silver Toyota Corolla. The other man who was with Jabu tried to run away but died outside the vehicle,” the source said.
This is not the first fatal shooting related to taxi violence in Ekurhuleni. Last Friday, taxi drivers Sanele Mali and Siboniso Langa were gunned down in Zonkezizwe Zone 3.
Two other men — Xolani Mbinza and Sifiso Chonco — were rushed to Thelle Mogoerane Regional Hospital by private transport. The shooting is also suspected to be taxi-related violence.
On 27 February, a fully loaded taxi en route to Alexandra via Sandton from the eSangweni taxi rank in Tembisa South was met by heavy gunfire 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. A woman passenger sitting in the front was also killed. The killing is suspected to be related to a dispute over routes between two rival taxi associations.
Last Thursday afternoon, three people — including two men connected to the taxi industry and a second-year student from the University of Johannesburg — were killed during an exchange of gunfire in Braamfontein, Johannesburg. A second student is still recovering in hospital after sustaining gunshot wounds.
Taxi violence is not only widespread in Gauteng.
On 6 February, a woman was shot dead and a man and a woman were injured after a minibus taxi waiting to fill up with passengers in Philippi, Cape Town, was ambushed by armed criminals.
And two taxi owners were shot and killed in Nyanga township, Cape Town, on 17 January.
On the same day, Port St Johns in the Eastern Cape turned into a war zone when two taxi associations engaged in a shootout at a taxi rank in this quiet coastal town, resulting in the death of an 11-year-old boy.
Pictured above: Stranded commuters at Germiston taxi rank.
Source: Supplied
