Cape Town – Police are investigating the murder of a 21-year-old taxi driver.
Police spokesperson Noloyiso Rwexana said Delft police are investigating a shooting incident at Ifafa Crescent, Leiden, in Delft on Wednesday night.
“According to reports, police attended the crime scene at the address and upon their arrival they found a 21-year-old man with a gunshot wound to his face. The circumstances surrounding this incident are under investigation with no arrests so far,” said Rwexana.
On Tuesday, a Khayelitsha taxi owner was the victim of suspected taxi-related violence after he was killed in a hail of bullets at the Site C taxi rank.
Fifty-two-year-old Goodman Lomboza was shot and killed and a woman injured in the shooting.
Codeta spokesperson Andile Soyama said the association would pay attention to recent shootings.
“I was informed this morning about this incident and it is very saddening that the shootings are not coming to an end. I cannot say that all the shootings are taxi-related because it may happen that the taxi driver is involved in other illegal activities while being part of the industry. It may be because of jealousy.”
The association condemned the violence.
“If the incident is related to the recent shootings… the police will have to make arrests,” said Soyama.
Transport and Public Works Department spokesperson Jandre Bakker said the department would not hesitate to revoke operating licences and close routes if the lives of commuters are deemed to be at risk.
“The department has taken note of the shooting of a taxi driver in Delft and awaits the outcome of the SAPS investigations into whether the crime can be linked to the recent spate of targeted murders that has plagued the minibus-taxi industry.
’’The department is continually engaging the industry leadership in order to find solutions to the problem. The safety of every transport user is a high priority and the safety of commuters in taxis is our priority.
’’This is, however, not a problem we are able to resolve on our own and will only be successfully responded to if the industry supports our efforts.
“We are also convinced that this is not an entire industry, but a group of criminals within the industry that is placing the whole system at risk.
’’This will have a significant impact on commuters and we urge industry leadership to assist the SAPS with their investigations and to restore calm in the taxi industry for the sake of commuters,” said Bakker.
Cape Times