Johannesburg – The Alexandra Taxi Association (ATA) is reeling after its chairperson, Vusi Mayaba, was gunned down in Woodmead on Thursday night, marking another grim chapter in the ongoing violence plaguing the taxi industry. The incident, which occurred in the parking lot outside The Baron Restaurant, has sparked renewed concerns about the prevalence of organised crime and the safety of taxi operators in Gauteng.
According to Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo, Gauteng police have launched a murder investigation following the shooting, which took place at approximately 10:30 pm. Mayaba, 52, and a male companion were reportedly approached by two men armed with automatic rifles, who opened fire. Mayaba was declared dead at the scene. The condition of the second man has not been disclosed.
The association's secretary, Sibusiso Zwane, confirmed Mayaba's death to Alex News, stating, "He passed away at the same time; you know where The Baron Restaurant is. It happened at the parking lot." Zwane added that while Mayaba usually travelled with bodyguards, he was alone at the time of the shooting. He received the news in the early hours of Friday morning.
Police suspect the killing is linked to ongoing tensions between rival taxi associations in Alexandra. Masondo appealed to anyone with information that could assist the investigation or lead to the arrest of the suspects to contact their nearest police station or Crime Stop on 08600 10111.
Mayaba's murder comes just days after two other members of the same association were fatally shot in Carlswald, Midrand, on December 2. Zwane confirmed that the two individuals were members of the ATA but were not in leadership positions. That drive-by shooting occurred on the corner of New Road and Barnet Street.
This latest incident follows the killing of Victor Molefe Moekeletsi, the chairperson of the Alexandra, Randburg, Midrand, and Sandton Taxi Association (Armsta), who was shot dead at Marlboro Gardens in October along with one of his bodyguards. Moekeletsi’s convoy, consisting of an Audi and a Mahindra bakkie carrying security personnel, was ambushed and fired upon by unknown gunmen in a white BMW X5. To date, no arrests have been made in connection with Moekeletsi's murder.
Just in September, Mayaba and Molefe were celebrating unity in an event meant to mark the end of gun violence in the Alexandra taxi industry. They were also instrumental in working with the City of Johannesburg to get taxi operators using the new Vaya route to surrender it, according to the city’s transport MMC Kenny Kunene.
The spate of killings has prompted strong reactions from industry stakeholders and government officials. City of Johannesburg MMC for Roads and Transport Kenny Kunene expressed his deep concern, saying, "We are very worried because in 2025 alone, and I am not including other taxi murders, three taxi bosses in Gauteng were killed. These people were transforming the taxi industry, and so we are very worried."
Kunene added that the industry needs a national taxi killings task team because taxi murders are more than political killings. "By the way, I felt vindicated when [police] minister Senzo Mchunu was testifying before the Madlanga commission because he gave the numbers, and he said 35% of killings in South Africa are related to organised crimes," he said.
Kunene believes that the taxi killings happen frequently because the police are not interested in investigating. "It is a tragedy, it is a state of emergency, and sadly in 2025 we have seen taxi bosses being killed in the City of Johannesburg. I still call on police to put together national taxi killings task team," he said.
Kunene also noted, "We are saddened to hear about the killing of another taxi boss, Chairman of ATA and Director of ABC Vusi Mayaba. Mr Mayaba was shot last night in Woodmead as he was leaving a restaurant." He added, "We are very much concerned that there have been multiple murders that are taxi-related, including three taxi bosses in the City of Johannesburg, one in Soweto and two in Alex. This is too much."
Meanwhile, Theo Malele, spokesperson of the National Taxi Alliance (NTA) said the problem is that there is no deterrant instead people get incentives for killing others. "One gets sentenced to 15 years imprisonment but seven years down the line they are back and running businesses. We are calling for harsher sentences so that people know that it would be impossible for them to have a life after committing crime."
Malele said associations always hand over information, however that makes them become the next target. "We have a serious issue of corrupt police officers. When association gives information to the police, they take that information and give it to the perpetrator and then the next thing you know they are next in line to be killed."
Gauteng police suspect the killing of Alexandra Taxi Association boss Vusi Mayaba could be linked to the ongoing violence in the industry.
Mayaba was shot on Thursday night after leaving a restaurant in Woodmead.
His death comes a few days after two taxi owners of the same association were shot dead killed in Midrand.
In November, Mayaba spoke against taxi violence at the funeral of another association boss, Molefe Moekeletsi, who was killed along with his bodyguard in a drive-by shooting.
Gauteng police spokesperson Mavela Masondo said, “It is reported that the deceased, together with another male, were at a parking lot in Woodmead when they were approached by two males who fired shots at them using automatic rifles. The 52-year-old victim was declared dead on the scene.
“It is suspected that the killing is related to an ongoing fight between taxi associations in Alexandra.
Police are appealing to anyone who might have information that can help in the investigation or assist in the apprehension of the suspects to please call the nearest police station or call Crime Stop on 08600 10111.”
Meanwhile, Johannesburg Transport MMC Kenny Kunene said that more needs to be done by law enforcement authorities to curb the violence in the taxi industry.
“This is a very serious, serious, serious issue. The taxi industry drives our economy; transportation drives the economy. That’s why I called on the president and minister [of police] to form a national taxi killings task team that will focus on the killings of the taxi drivers, bosses, managers and so on.”
The investigation into Mayaba's murder is ongoing, and police are urging anyone with information to come forward.
Follow Us on Twitter
