A violent incident occurred at the Zwelihle Taxi Rank in Hermanus, South Africa, on Wednesday morning, resulting in the deaths of two men, including a local taxi owner. A third man was wounded and rushed to hospital. The shooting took place at about 06:55. The provincial police spokesperson, Thembakazi Mpendukana, confirmed that two counts of murder and an attempted murder case were opened for further investigation.
The motive behind the shooting is believed to be taxi-related, but no arrest has been made yet. According to Colonel Gustaf Tamboer, the Hermanus Police Station Commander, the taxi ranks in Zwelihle and Hermanus were closed as a safety precaution. The police are working with other authorities, including Overstrand Municipality's law enforcement unit, to put in place safety plans, including increased visible policing patrols.
The latest incident brings taxi-violence-related killings for the past nine months to seven. A voice note on social media stated that five or six gunmen ran through the area near the taxi rank, with a car seen following the armed men. The taxi owner killed in the shooting was a member of the Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association (CATA) and had recently returned to Hermanus after living in Cape Town due to safety concerns.
The killing of the taxi owner is a reminder of the taxi owner Jeffrey Alam's death in February last year. He was sitting at the rank when unknown gunmen opened fire on him and the men he was sitting with. The incident has raised concerns about the safety of taxi owners and drivers in the area. Over the past few weeks, a number of men wearing reflector jackets were seen at taxi ranks in the area, reportedly to restore peace in the taxi industry and put a stop to killings.
According to sources, four taxi-related deaths were recorded in Zwelihle between June and July. Two weeks ago, a local taxi driver, identified as Siyamanga Mdodana, was shot and killed while walking through an alley towards his home in Dubai. The police are investigating the connection between these incidents and the latest shooting at the Zwelihle Taxi Rank.
The Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association (CATA) has been working to address the issue of taxi-related violence in the area. A spokesperson for CATA stated that the men wearing reflector jackets were part of an effort to restore peace in the taxi industry and put a stop to killings. The police and other authorities are working together to prevent further incidents and ensure the safety of taxi owners and drivers.
The investigation into the shooting at the Zwelihle Taxi Rank is ongoing, with the police appealing for information from the public. The community is urged to cooperate with the authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice and prevent further incidents of taxi-related violence. The closure of the taxi ranks in Zwelihle and Hermanus has caused disruptions to commuters, but the safety of the public and taxi owners is the top priority.
Key points
- Two men killed, one wounded in taxi shooting at Zwelihle Taxi Rank
- Taxi-related killings in the area have increased to seven in the past nine months
- Police and authorities are working together to prevent further incidents and ensure safety
