Ngqamakhwe – A bloody ambush in the Xilinxa village of Ngqamakhwe has claimed the lives of two men, one believed to be a prominent taxi boss and the other a former chair of the Uncedo Taxi Association. The brazen attack, which occurred on Monday afternoon, has prompted a massive police manhunt and raised concerns about escalating violence within the taxi industry.
The incident unfolded at approximately 2pm in the Jekelezi location, within the Xilinxa administrative area. According to police reports, the two men, aged 42 and 37, were entering the village when they were ambushed by suspects travelling in a white Suzuki SUV.
Police spokesperson Warrant Officer Majola Nkohli confirmed the details, stating: "At the scene, police found a white double cab Toyota bakkie with several bullet holes."
The gunmen, who seemingly lay in wait within the village, unleashed a hail of bullets on the victims' white double-cab Toyota bakkie. The passenger, believed to be the former chair of the Uncedo Taxi Association, was struck multiple times in the upper body and died on the passenger seat.
The driver, identified as a taxi boss in Ngqamakhwe, attempted to escape the onslaught, leaping from the vehicle and fleeing for his life. However, the attackers were relentless, pursuing him and fatally shooting him just metres from his home.
A confidential police report paints a grim picture of the scene, revealing the sheer ferocity of the attack. "He had multiple wounds in the back and head," the report stated, referring to the taxi boss. "There were 10 empty cartridges of a rifle next to [the driver], six empty cartridges of a pistol and three empty cartridges on the road [the driver] was running in." The report further noted that the bakkie "had about 20 [bullet] holes and most were on the driver’s side."
Warrant Officer Nkohli confirmed that the identities of the deceased are being withheld until formal identification has been completed, although the Daily Dispatch has reported that the identities are known to them. "The identities of the deceased, aged 37 and 42, are being withheld until a formal identification process is concluded," Nkohli said.
Preliminary investigations have pointed to possible motives for the killings. According to a confidential police report, the men were accused of extortion and stock theft, respectively. Police sources have suggested that the taxi boss may have been linked to an extortion ring operating in the area, while the second victim was suspected of being involved in stock theft.
The provincial serious and violent crimes unit is now leading the investigation, and police are appealing to the public for assistance. Warrant Officer Nkohli urged anyone with information that could lead to the arrest of the perpetrators to contact the team leader on 071-475-2292 or to share information anonymously via Crime Stop on 08600-10111.
The South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) has expressed concern over the incident. Santaco deputy provincial chair Sobazile Mxhosha said they had yet to receive a full report on the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
The Ngqamakhwe killings come against a backdrop of escalating taxi-related violence in other parts of the country, particularly in the Western Cape. The Cape Town Taxi Association (CATA) is reeling from the recent murder of one of its executive members, Mzukisi Zwakala, who was fatally shot in Lwandle on Monday.
Zwakala, who served on the CATA Lwandle regional executive committee, was also a member of the negotiating team tasked with resolving an ongoing impasse over route operations with rival taxi association CODETA, the Cape Organisation for the Democratic Taxi Association, in the region.
CATA spokesperson Nkululeko Sityebi is urgently appealing for the arrest of those responsible, stressing the danger of speculation in the volatile industry.
"We cannot have so many killings at CATA with no arrests made, that's totally unacceptable," Sityebi said.
"We cannot assume because assumptions are so dangerous in the taxi industry, they can cause a lot of fights."
Sityebi is awaiting confirmation from the police on whether Zwakala's murder is related to the reopening of the routes. He stated that if a link is established, CATA will take "decisive steps".
The recent violence in both the Eastern and Western Cape underscores the ongoing challenges facing the taxi industry in South Africa. The industry, which plays a vital role in transporting millions of commuters daily, has long been plagued by turf wars, extortion, and violence.
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