More bloodshed in kasi taxi war!

THE taxi violence happening in Zonkizizwe, Ekurhuleni is a major concern.

This was revealed by the Gauteng MEC of Roads and Transport spokesman, Lesiba Mpya.

On Saturday, 24 August, a taxi rank queue marshal was shot and killed, and two unknown women, aged 31 and 34, were hit by stray bullets when gunmen allegedly opened fire at the Zonkizizwe Taxi Rank premises.

Unknown men opened fire and shot a taxi driver from Zonkizizwe.

In June, Daily Sun published a story about Nonhlanhla Masiya, a street vendor at Chris Hani Mall in Vosloorus, who lost her life after she was struck by a stray bullet during a shooting aimed at a taxi driver. The story was headlined: "Young mum's life cut short by stray bullet!"

Mpya, said they're concerned about the number of fatalities caused by the entire taxi industry, including the Zonkizizwe Taxi Association.

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He said they're aware of the taxi violence happening in Zonkizizwe.

"It has been reported before that the community members find themselves caught up in the crossfire of the Zonkizizwe Taxi Association fights. We're pleading with all the affected sources to cease fire, and we are calling up the leaders of the taxi industry and us as the department to come closer to the situation so we can avoid more bloodshed," said Mpya.

He said that the MEC is concerned about the whole situation.

"The MEC is empowered to deal decisively with situations where there's violence, intimidation, and no peace in the taxi industry. She has the power to close the taxi rank, but currently, she has not taken that decision, owing to a situation where she can sit down with the affected taxi association and try to find an amicable solution," Mpya said.

He they're going to release a report on how the MEC will attend to the issue that is causing an unsafe environment in society.

Police spokeswoman Captain Neldah Sekgobela confirmed the incidents.

She said a complainant alleged that two unknown African men walked inside the Zonkizizwe Taxi Rank and went straight to the queue marshal.

"They started shooting at him and he ran away. They chased him while firing several shots, and the two women were shot by stray bullets. The suspects fled in a red Hyundai i10 and no one has been arrested," said Sekgobela.

She added that in Vosloorus, a taxi driver and a street vendor died at the scene.

"We found two victims at the scene, a male taxi driver from Zonkizizwe, shot multiple times, and Nonhlanhla, shot once in the upper body. Both were declared dead by paramedics, and several cartridges were found at the scene. No arrests have been made, and the matter is under investigation," said Sekgobela.

Daily Sun's attempts to get a comment from the taxi operators in Zonkizizwe were unsuccessful as they refused to speak.