Crime fighters are calling on gangsters to down their guns for the 21-day lockdown after a taxi driver was shot dead yesterday.
The 32-year-old victim, who drove the Cape Town route and has only been identified as “Bobo”, had been on trial for an attempted murder in Strand.
He was gunned down in an apparent hit in Iris Street, Woodlands, near the BP Garage and Clocktower in Lentegeur.
Byron de Villiers, the chairperson of the Lentegeur Community Policing Forum, has recorded three murders this week, one of them gang-related.
“The incident where the driver was shot at Clocktower, we were informed that he was facing a trial for attempted murder. The case was still active,” he said.
“The deceased and four other guys were sitting and smoking a pipe at the taxi rank.
“This was definitely a hit because only he was shot.
“He had no gang tattoos and affiliation as far as we know, but the case he has in Strand.”
Byron says the shootings have increased since the pandemic reached South Africa.
“We are hoping that the lockdown will calm things down,” he says.
“What we have seen, since the lockdown has been announced, there has been an increase in gang violence.
“It is like they need to finish their business before lockdown.”
In the first incident, a 31-year-old man was shot dead in Katjiepiering Street in Lentegeur on 24 March.
Police Mihlali Majikela confirmed two of the shootings: “The circumstances surrounding a shooting incident that took place (Tuesday) at about 6.10pm in Katjiepiering Street, Lentegeur, are being investigated.
“The deceased, a 31-year-old male, sustained gunshot wounds and was declared dead on the scene.
“A case of murder has been opened for investigation and no arrests have been made at this stage.
“In an unrelated matter, a case of murder has been registered for investigation following a shooting incident that took place (yesterday) at 8.10am in Iris Street, Woodlands, Lentegeur.
“Upon arrival at the scene, police members found the body of the deceased male aged 32.”