A Mitchells Plain taxi driver will face murder charges after shooting a skollie who tried to rob him twice in one day.
According to commuters, gunshots rang out at the Hanover Park taxi terminus on Wednesday afternoon as the 48-year-old father shot and killed Llewellyn Martin, 21, a suspected member of the Mongrels who had tried to rob him.
Later that day the taxi driver handed himself over to police.
“That guy robbed him in the morning and then came back to rob him again and so he shot him. I am not surprised because they rob the drivers every day,” says a commuter, who asked not to be named.
Police spokesperson, Captain FC van Wyk, confirms the shooting and says the skollie was shot in the back.
“The 21-year-old male was taken to the local day hospital where he subsequently passed away,” he says.
Van Wyk says at 4pm that same day the taxi driver handed himself over at Philippi SAPS and gave police his gun.
“The 48-year-old male also handed in the suspected murder weapon, a 7.62 Tokarev pistol of which he is the legal licence holder,” says Van Wyk.
“He will be charged with murder and will make his first court appearance on Friday, 11 May, at the Athlone Magistrates’ Court. Police investigations continue.”
Shareef Edwards, of the Plain Park Taxi Association, says fellow drivers were concerned about the arrested driver as he has a wife and children to provide for.
“Yes, the gangsters do rob the taxis, but it is not only the Mongrels. The robberies are the reason that shooting happened,” he says.
“That is a man with a wife and children to look after and he was just protecting his business. They come in big groups of about eight guys at a time.”
Edwards says the association went to the Mongrels leaders to raise their concerns and have been promised that skollies will not rob drivers anymore.
“The problem is it is not just the Mongrels, it is all the gangsters and the council needs to step in and help create opportunities for the young men so they can have work and something else to do than join gangs.”
Drivers say they will be attending court proceedings to support the taxi driver on Friday.