Two taxi drivers have been wiped out and a gaatjie wounded in less than 24 hours in Elsies River in shootings believed to be linked to “protection money”.
Sources say gangs want taxi drivers in Elsies to pay them to prevent them from being robbed.
The drivers are apparently accosted as they drop off customers along routes in Elsies River, Parow and Clarke Estate.
Police spokesperson, Captain FC van Wyk, says they are investigating murder and attempted murder cases.
“Circumstances surrounding a shooting incident that occurred Wednesday, October 23 at 4:35pm at the corners of 29 and Halt Road, Elsies River, where a 55-year-old man was shot and fatally wounded and a 30-year-old injured is under investigation,” he says.
“The injured victim was taken to a nearby hospital for medical treatment.”
Taxi drivers targeted by skollies. Picture supplied
On Thursday cops were called to the corner of Consani and Halt roads again where a young taxi driver was murdered and found slumped halfway outside his van.
Van Wyk says: “Circumstances surrounding a shooting incident where a 29-year-old man was shot and fatally wounded is under investigation.”
Community leader Imraahm Mukaddam says despite the deployment of the army, the bloodshed continues unabated in Elsies River: “We don’t believe that police, Law Enforcement [or] traffic [police] have a plan to stop this senseless violence. Even with the army here we still have killings.”