By Everson Luhanga
A deputy chairperson of the Alexandra Taxi Association (ATA) narrowly survived a second assassination attempt on Monday.
A hail of bullets killed one of his bodyguards and struck an e-hailing driver who was driving past during the shooting and later died.
The taxi bossās second bodyguard was also shot and rushed to hospital.
Old Pretoria Road was closed to traffic as police sealed off the crime scene.
The assassins fled in an SUV.
In August, the taxi boss was one of two top-ranking members of the taxi association who survived after being shot at in Midrand, Johannesburg.
Two bystanders, including a street vendor and a female motorist, were injured during the shooting. One of the suspected criminals was later arrested.
Members of the Alexandra Taxi Association, who did not want to be named for fear of reprisals, said the shootings were because two opposing groups were fighting over leadership positions.
In recent months, violence has escalated, with several taxi operators and patrollers being killed.
On 2 May, a taxi owner was shot and killed while sitting inside his car during rush hour traffic at the Pan Africa Mall.
Witnesses said the man was shot six times through the closed window of his car.
On 20 August, a group of suspects driving a Toyota Hilux bakkie opened fire on two vehicles driven by taxi owners in Midrand.
The taxi owners were coming from a meeting and were escorted by security officers. A shootout ensued, and two bystanders were hit and sustained injuries.
On 28 August, a taxi owner driving a marked ATA vehicle was shot and killed at the Goldreich Street taxi rank in Hillbrow, while a passerby was seriously injured.
A week earlier, a taxi owner from the ATA was shot and killed at the Balfour Park Mall taxi rank.
On 20 September, unknown gunmen shot and killed a taxi patroller and critically injured his colleague, who was rushed to hospital.
The two men were from the Alexandra Taxi Association.
Pictured above: The taxi-shooting crime scene in Alexandra on Monday.
Source: Supplied
