Johannesburg – A surge in taxi-related violence has gripped Gauteng province, leaving seven people dead in separate shootings at taxi ranks in Johannesburg and Katlehong. The incidents, which occurred on Wednesday and Thursday, have raised concerns about the ongoing rivalries between taxi associations and the safety of commuters.
On Thursday morning, four people were gunned down at the Jeppestown taxi rank in the Johannesburg CBD. According to police spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi, a group of armed men arrived at the Doornfontein taxi rank and began randomly shooting at people.
"Four people were declared dead on the scene while three were taken to hospital with injuries," Nevhuhulwi said. Among the wounded was a university student who was waiting for a bus. "The shooting is suspected to be taxi violence related, and the matter will be investigated by the Provincial Taxi Violence Unit," she added.
Gauteng Police Commissioner Tommy Mthombeni confirmed the details, stating, "Thus far we can confirm four at this stage and also three were injured of which one is critical and two of them I can say are bystanders and two of them I think are associated to the taxi association as such. The other three have been transported to the hospital."
The victims included a taxi driver, a person managing the taxi queues, and two hawkers, according to an AFP report.
A similar incident occurred on Wednesday at the Zonkizizwe taxi rank in Katlehong, southeast of Johannesburg, where three taxi drivers were killed and two passengers were wounded. "It is reported that unknown people driving a white BMW randomly shot at bystanders at the rank," Nevhuhulwi said. Cases of murder and attempted murder have been opened, but no arrests have been made in connection with either shooting.
"It is reported that unknown people driving a white BMW randomly shot at bystanders at the rank. The deceased were identified as taxi drivers. Two passengers were injured and taken to hospital," Nevhuhulwi said.
The shootings are believed to be linked to ongoing rivalries between taxi associations, a long-standing issue in South Africa's competitive and lucrative taxi industry. For decades, the industry has been plagued by assassinations and violence as rival groups vie for control of lucrative routes and territories.
Minibus taxis are the primary mode of transport for the majority of South Africans, making the violence particularly disruptive and frightening for ordinary citizens.
These recent incidents are not isolated. Last month, 14 minibus taxis, four buses, and a private vehicle were set alight at the Nyanga taxi rank in Cape Town in a suspected taxi war. In the same month in Cape Town, a 55-year-old man was killed and three others injured in a shooting at the Kuwait taxi rank, Site C. Police spokesperson Sergeant Wesley Twigg said that the motive was believed to be related to taxi violence.
South Africa has a high murder rate, averaging around 75 killings a day, according to police statistics. However, these figures do not specifically categorise deaths linked to the taxi wars, highlighting the need for more detailed data collection and analysis to address the issue effectively.
