Carnage: Taxis are a new target. Picture: Leon Knipe
Cape Town - Reported taxi and gang-related violence resulted in a bloody weekend in Vrygrond and Overcome Heights, leading to the deaths of several people including a minor, and some wounded.
Ward councillor, Mandy Marr, said on Saturday, a taxi driver was shot and killed in Drury Road, Vrygrond.
Another Retreat taxi driver was also shot and killed in his taxi on the corner of Prince George Drive and Military Road.
This while a 16-year-old was shot and killed at the Vrygrond taxi rank in Jappie Road, Vrygrond; a Retreat taxi driver was shot and killed in Overcome Heights; and a four-year-old child was wounded during the shootout and rushed to False Bay Hospital.
“It’s quite a confusing situation because we don’t know now why the two taxi associations are involved.
Marr said the taxi bosses wanted to meet with the gang bosses. Police spokesperson, Joseph Swartbooi, said they are investigating cases of murder.
“The suspects fled and are yet to be arrested. The motive for this attack is under investigation,” Swartbooi said.
In what the police claimed was an unrelated incident, officers on patrol attended to a complaint of a shooting in Rasta Road in Overcome Heights on Saturday.
The officers found the body of a 35-year-old man who had sustained gunshot wounds.
The victim was declared deceased and the motive is believed to be taxi-violence related.
On Sunday, more shootings were reported at the Vrygrond taxi rank and in Philemon Road, Vrygrond.
Vyrgrond community activist, Mymoena Scholtz, said the community was once again being held hostage by taxi bosses and gangsters.
“They can’t even step out of their own doors. They can’t walk out by their gate because they’re not sure if they are going to come back safely.”
She said residents called for greater police presence and intervention by the minister of Police.
Cape Organisation for the Democratic Taxi Association Vrygrond chairperson, Makhosandile Tumana, said: “Where this thing comes from, we really don’t know what is a good reason for the Funky’s to jump on us and kill people by the rank.
“It was between us and Junky Funky’s, they were beating us left and right but today (Sun), I hear the story of two that there are two guys that got shot as well and the other driver was shot in Overcome, he was the driver of Cata Constantia so we are a bit confused what exactly is happening, who is fighting with who?”
Anyone with information on the incidents have been urged to contact Crime Stop on 086 00 10111.
shakirah.thebus@inl.co.za
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