DURBAN - A taxi owner from Oakford in the Verulam area, north of Durban, was shot and killed on Sunday afternoon in the Verulam city centre.
This brings the total number of assassinated taxi bosses in the Verulam and oThongathi areas to at least five since the start of the year.
Reaction Unit South Africa (Rusa) spokesperson Prem Balram said the man was assassinated on Wick Street in the Verulam city centre on Sunday afternoon.
Balram said that their reaction officers responded after hearing rapid gunfire in the vicinity of the bus rank.
“While officers were attempting to locate the scene of the shooting, they were routed back to Rusa headquarters after the controller on duty reported that a Foton minibus taxi drove onto the premises at a high rate of speed with a man screaming for assistance. On arrival, Rusa medics discovered a body in the passenger seat. He was shot multiple times and was declared deceased,” Balram said.
“The man who drove the bullet-riddled taxi stated that the taxi boss was seated alone in his vehicle at the bus rank when three men with high calibre rifles walked up to him and opened fire. He ran to the deceased’s aid however the suspects opened fire in his direction. The assassins fled in a silver VW Polo (registration unknown) parked on the R102 behind the bus rank.”
Balram added that the man thereafter proceeded to the vehicle and noticed the owner slumped in the driver’s seat. He moved him over to the passenger side and drove him to Rusa offices with the hope that he was still alive.
“Several high calibre spent cartridges were recovered in the taxi,” Balram said.
“The motive for the shooting is believed to be related to ongoing taxi violence.”
Police had not commented by the time of publication.
In February, a 39-year-old taxi boss was killed at his home on Old Inanda Road in Verulam.
Then Balram said the man was found bleeding extensively from gunshot wounds to his head and back. He showed no signs of life and was declared deceased.
According to a witness, a lone gunman alighted from a VW Polo sedan and fired multiple shots before he sped off. Six spent cartridges were recovered on the scene.
Earlier that month, another taxi owner was shot and killed on Wick Street after gunmen opened fire on the driver of the vehicle that was parked next to him.
A man’s body was discovered with gunshot wounds to his head, face and neck. He died before the arrival of first responders.
In January, a 60-year-old taxi owner was gunned down in the oThongathi city centre.
His body was discovered on the ground with multiple gunshot wounds.
Earlier that month, a taxi was assassinated in front of his family in the Cornubia housing complex. The man was in a bedroom with his partner and two sons when two men entered their home and shot the man multiple times before fleeing the scene.
Daily News