Despite last week’s peace pact, taxi violence flared up again yesterday, claiming the lives of three drivers and leaving six others injured.
The attacks yesterday morning left taxi ranks across the Cape Flats deserted as scared and stranded commuters made alternative travel arrangements.
The shootings come just six days after eight people were shot and killed in an ongoing feud over routes.
According to Transport MEC Daylin Mitchell, the cause of the violence between Cata and Codeta is control of the Paarl/Mbekweni route.
“Both associations claim it’s theirs. Santaco will have a meeting by Thursday to try and come up with solutions.
“If anything changes with regards routes being withdrawn, we will communicate with commuters.”
Codeta has assured its commuters that they will be operating this morning.
Secretary General Andile Khanyi says: “We had no choice to stop the operation after three of our men were killed yesterday morning.
“Today we will be back on the road and we would like law enforcement agencies to be at the hotspots for the safety of our drivers and the commuters.”
Cata’s secretary Mandla Hermanus says they halted operations after Cata Boland taxis in Paarl were “chased away” by SAPS.
“Drivers decided to stop operating until we can guarantee they will be safe and not be intimidated and because we are unable to guarantee their safety, we are unable to force them to resume operations.”
SAPS’ Joseph Swartbooi says the shootings are in “all probability” related to the taxi violence.
“In Bukwayo Road in Harare, two 39-year-old men were shot and killed, in Mew Way a 42-year-old man was shot and wounded while an unknown male, believed to be a taxi driver, was transported to a nearby hospital with private transport after he sustained a gunshot wound.”
VIOLENT ATTACKS: Three people were wounded and two died at Harare Taxi Rank. Video: Ayanda Ndamane
One of the injured men was a security guard who was driving a branded Toyota Quantum.
The Fidelity security guard was picking up staff when he was shot and injured in Endlovini informal settlement.
In an unrelated matter, police discovered the body of a 45-year-old man in the driver’s seat of his vehicle in Symphony Way near Blikkiesdorp.
Meanwhile, cops attended a scene near Sarah Baartman where a taxi driver sustained gunshot wounds to both legs.”
In another incident near TRA 5 in Delft South, the driver of a retail business was dropping off employees when he was attacked.
“Two unknown males tried to stop the vehicle when the driver sped off,” said Swarbooi.
“The suspects fired gunshots at the vehicle wounding a male and two female occupants. The victims were transported to a nearby hospital for medical treatment.”
No one has been arrested.