Shooting could be taxi-related, cops say
A taxi owner was shot and killed in Joe Slovo last week. Police say the incident is possibly taxi-related.
Milnerton police are investigating a murder case after a 56-year-old taxi owner was shot and killed at the Joe Slovo taxi rank last week shortly after a truce was signed between two warring taxi associations.
Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association (Cata) and the Cape Organisation for the Democratic Taxi Associations (Codeta) signed a peace deal on Monday August 2 after months of feuding over routes that threw public transport into chaos. The man was killed at the Joe Slovo rank the following day at about 12.45pm, according to Milnerton police spokeswoman Captain Nopaya Madyibi.
She confirmed he was a taxi owner but would not divulge further information “due to the sensitivity of the case”.
Provincial police spokesman Warrant Officer Joseph Swartbooi said police found the man’s body lying face up with gunshots to his face and chest.
“The unknown suspects fled the scene and are yet to be arrested. The motive for the attack is possibly taxi-related. The victim was declared dead on the scene by the medical personnel,” he said.
Ntomboxolo Makoba-Somdaka, spokeswoman for Transport and Public Works MEC Daylin Mitchell, said taxi bosses had assured the department that the killing was not related to the latest bout of taxi violence.
“It is pure criminality,” she said. “I must emphasize that. While we are working together to restore peace and calm, we will not compromise on the rule of law.”
Mr Mitchell and Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula were part of a delegation tasked with getting the feuding taxi associations to reach an agreement.
According to DA spokesman on transport and public works Ricardo Mackenzie, there have been 87 taxi-related deaths to date this year in the Western Cape.
SAPS and the National Prosecuting Authority should ”expedite their efforts in the prosecution of those who have engaged in these incidences of criminality“, he said.