Eight people have been killed in taxi violence in two days, bringing the death toll to 71 since the beginning of the year.
While police yesterday deployed more officers to try and stop the bloodshed, Transport MEC Daylin Mitchell has called for urgent talks between taxi operators and authorities.
Yesterday morning within two hours, six taxi drivers and a passenger were murdered.
Police spokesperson Captain FC van Wyk says at 6.30am, a taxi was standing at the intersection of New Eisleben and Sheffield Roads in Philippi East when another taxi stopped next to them and its occupants opened fire.
“The suspects fired numerous gunshots at the stationary vehicle. Two males, aged 33 and 24, were declared deceased on the scene whilst two males, both aged 35, were transported to a nearby hospital for medical treatment.
“Philippi East police are investigating two cases of murder and attempted murder.”
At 7am in Du Noon, a taxi was standing in Potsdam Road when suspects shot at the victim who was sitting inside the vehicle.
Van Wyk says a 35-year-old man was declared dead on the scene by medical personnel and Table View Police are investigating a case of murder.
Then at about 8.15am, a 40-year-old man was shot and killed on Duinefontein Road in Samora Machel.
Van Wyk says unknown occupants in a vehicle fired gunshots at commuters and fled the scene.
“Two men, aged 45 and 39, were injured and were transported to a nearby hospital for medical treatment.
“Samora Machel Police are investigating a case of murder and two cases of attempted murder.”
On Tuesday just after 3pm, a taxi driver travelling from Bellville was shot and killed in Borcherds Quarry.
Van Wyk says Bishop Lavis police are investigating a murder case.
“A 27-year-old man was shot and fatally wounded in his taxi. According to reports, the deceased was travelling from Bellville to Khayelitsha when he was shot at by an unknown male.
“He sustained a gunshot wound to his neck and passed away on the scene. There were no passengers in the taxi during the shooting.”
Meanwhile, the Transport MEC says: “Conflict between rival taxi ‘mother bodies’, CATA and Codeta, cost the lives of seven taxi operators in separate incidents throughout the City of Cape Town this morning.
“This brings the total number of taxi-related murders in the Western Cape to 71 since the start of the calendar year, with attempted murders and injuries at 33 over the same period.
“Today, officials from my Department and Department of Community Safety will attend an emergency meeting of the Transport Priority Committee with the SAPS and other enforcement and Intelligence authorities, to agree on an integrated Government approach to restore calm and to bring the perpetrators of the violence to book.”