South Africa: Gang Shooting Claims Five Lives, Linked To Taxi Violence

Five people were left dead including a Tongaat taxi boss and his security entourage when they came under fire on Thursday, minutes after leaving a meeting to discuss violence and shootings in the taxi industry.

According to police, the shootings occurred at three different locations in Tongaat. 

A driver and a passenger were killed on the R102, while a third person was brought to the hospital with gunshot wounds; three people were killed at the second location; and another person was injured in the shoulder by men in a white Mercedes-Benz at the third scene.

The shooters fired at the vehicle on the R102 highway, according to KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Col Robert Netshiunda. 

“The same vehicle was allegedly spotted at the second incident [a] few kilometres away from the first crime scene. 

"Reports indicate the suspects, who were using high-calibre rifles, fired at security guards reportedly escorting [the] taxi owner.”

He said three guards were killed.

According to Netshiunda, the driver of the taxi boss's vehicle managed to flee, but the suspects pursued him and continued to shoot at him.

"The driver was injured while attempting to flee in his vehicle, but they collided."

The cab driver and his boss were able to flee on foot. Netshiunda stated that they felt the incidents were linked.

When TimesLIVE, a South African news media outlet arrived on the scene on Thursday, traffic was backed up and roads were closed.

According to police, the investigation is ongoing and no arrests have been made.

A taxi association member who did not want to be identified told TimesLIVE that the event occurred after the association had just ended a meeting.

“I’m shocked and as I’m standing here I’m also scared.

"We don’t know what motivated the shooting but everyone knows there are taxi violence issues in the area.

"We were discussing how to resolve this at today’s [Thursday] meeting.

“I don’t know what is going to happen and who is next since this happened.”