By Everson Luhanga
- Gunmen ambushed and killed two taxi owners in a white Toyota Corolla in Carlswald, Midrand, on Tuesday morning.
- The deadly shooting follows last month’s killing of top taxi boss Molefe Moekeletsi in Marlboro, near Alexandra.
Two taxi operators were shot and killed in a daylight hit in Midrand, Johannesburg, on Tuesday in what police suspect is another case of taxi violence.
The two victims, aged 53 and 38, were members of the Alexandra Taxi Association (ATA). They were driving a white Toyota Corolla on New Road in Carlswald when gunmen in another car opened fire.
Bloodstains and bullet holes covered the vehicle, which was left stranded on the road. Both victims were declared dead at the scene.
When the Scrolla.Africa team arrived at the scene, police investigators were still combing through evidence hours after the attack.
Gauteng provincial police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo said the shooting happened at around 11:10am. “The victims were attacked by about three suspects who were driving a white sedan.
He said police have launched a manhunt, but no arrests have been made. “The motive for the killing cannot be confirmed at this stage, although it is suspected to be related to taxi violence,” said Masondo.
He appealed to the public that anyone with information to come forward or call the nearest police station onCrime Stop on 08600 10111.
The killings come just weeks after the high-profile murder of Molefe Moekeletsi, chairperson of the Alexandra, Randburg, Midrand, Sandton Taxi Association (Armsta).
Moekeletsi and one of his bodyguards were shot and killed in Marlboro on 30 October. Another bodyguard survived the attack. A passing motorist was also wounded.
Police later found the getaway car, which had bullet shells and bloodstains, abandoned near the Jukskei River.
At the time of his death, Moekeletsi had recently led a peace event in Alexandra where he called for an end to the bloodshed in the taxi industry.
“If you do not want a leader, wait for their term to finish and vote them out,” he told operators at the event on 19 September.
Alexandra Taxi Association chairperson Vusi Mayaba also promised there would be no more killings while he was in charge.
Moekeletsi had previously survived an attack when criminals torched more than 10 of his taxis.
In the Marlboro attack, gunmen in a white BMW X5 opened fire on two vehicles — an Audi and a Mahindra bakkie. Two people were killed and four were wounded, including civilians caught in the crossfire.
The BMW was later found abandoned nearby.
Police say the Marlboro shooting is also believed to be linked to taxi violence.
Pictured above: Crime scene where two taxi bosses were shot and killed in Midrand, Johannesburg on Tuesday afternoon
Image source: Everson Luhanga
