Congress of Democratic Taxi Associations (CODETA) affiliated taxis will not be operating until further notice. Its spokesperson, Andile Khanyi says that this action follows the tensions that have arisen recently.

A total of seven taxi operators have been gunned down in separate incidents in Cape Town this morning.

The Western Cape Transport Department says that the violence is due to conflict between rival taxi organisations, CATA and Codeta.

• In Ravensmead, a 41-year-old taxi driver was gunned down in his vehicle. The occupants of another vehicle pulled up alongside him on the corners of De La Rey Road and Uitsig Avenue and fired several shots at him. The victim is receiving treatment in hospital.
• In Du Noon, a taxi driver was parked in Potsdam Road when he came under attack by unknown suspects. The 35-year-old victim was fatally wounded and declared dead on the scene.
• At about 6.30 this morning in Philippi East, a taxi with passengers was standing at the intersection of New Eisleben and Sheffield when another taxi with unknown occupants stopped next to them. They opened fire on the stationary vehicle. Two men, aged 24 and 33 were shot and killed in this incident, while two other 35-year-old men were injured. They are receiving treatment in hospital.
• Just under two hours later, unknown occupants of a vehicle opened fire on commuters standing on Duinefontein Road in Samora Machel. The suspects fled the scene in an undisclosed direction. The attack claimed the life of a 40-year-old man, while two other men were injured.

Police have deployed officers to taxi routes to ensure public safety. Investigations of murder and attempted murder have been opened.

These incidents bring the total number of taxi related murders in the Western Cape to 71 since the start of the year, with attempted murders and injuries at 33 over the same period.

[Header image: Aron Hyman]