Lwandle police have launched a murder investigation and registered two attempted murder cases following a deadly shooting in Asanda Village Monday evening (27 October).
The incident unfolded near the corner of Hlathi Drive and Isikolo Street, where a suspected gunman opened fire on a passenger taxi. One taxi occupant was killed, while another passenger and a bystander were wounded and hospitalised.
Lwandle police spokesperson Sergeant Mthokozisi Gama confirmed that local police officers responded to the shooting around 17:00, finding a 44-year-old man dead behind the driver’s seat of a white Toyota Quantum taxi with multiple gunshot wounds to the head and body.
“It is alleged that the deceased was seated behind the driver in the minibus taxi when an unknown suspect fired several shots, fatally wounding him,” the spoksperson said.
Photo: Jamey Gordon
“The taxi driver and a female bystander were also injured during the shooting, and taken to the nearest medical facility for treatment.”
Gama said police detectives are working hard to track down the suspect involved in the fatal shooting, believed to be linked to the ongoing taxi route dispute between rival associations Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association (Cata) and the Cape Organisation for the Democratic Taxi Association (Codeta).
Gama said the victim was identified as a Cata-affiliated taxi owner. “The suspect is yet to be arrested,” he added.
The incident comes just days after the Western Cape Mobility Department reopened all 10 previously closed taxi routes in Somerset West and Lwandle on Friday (17 October), ending a month-long shutdown imposed following deadly violence between the feuding associations.
The extraordinary measures were implemented on 17 September, under Section 91 of the National Land Transport Act after six people were killed in incidents amid the ongoing dispute.
The latest tragedy also follows the reported ambush of a high-ranking Cata member, who chaired one of the association’s operating routes, on the R300 freeway towards Somerset West on Monday 20 October.
The provincial Mobility Department was approached for comment but declined the opportunity, stating that it is awaiting formal police confirmation that the incident is linked to the ongoing deadly taxi conflict.
Anyone with the information regarding the incident, is urged to contact the police on 08600 10111.
