Key Takeaways
- A 33-year-old taxi owner affiliated with the Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association (CATA) was shot and killed on Sunday night in Lwandle, Somerset West.
- The incident is the fourth taxi-related killing in the last week, amid a flare-up in violence in the area.
- The police are investigating the incident and are appealing for anyone with information to come forward.
- The motive for the attack is still unknown and the suspect(s) have not been arrested.
- The Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association (CATA) has confirmed that the victim was a member, but the circumstances surrounding the incident are still unclear.
Introduction to the Incident
The Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association (CATA) has been hit by another tragic incident, with one of its members being shot and killed on Sunday night. The 33-year-old taxi owner was gunned down at 10:30pm while sitting inside his Toyota Fortuner in Mashakane Street, Lwandle, Somerset West. This incident is the fourth taxi-related killing in the last week, amid a flare-up in violence in the area. The police are investigating the incident and are working to determine the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
Police Investigation
The police have confirmed that they are investigating a case of murder, and are appealing for anyone with information to come forward. Police spokesperson Captain FC van Wyk reported that the SAPS members received a complaint of a shooting incident at the mentioned address and on arrival, they found the male sitting in the driver’s side of a Toyota Fortuner, with multiple gunshot wounds to his body. The victim was declared deceased on the scene by medical personnel. The motive for the attack forms part of the police investigation, and the suspect(s) fled the scene and are yet to be arrested. The Lwandle police have registered a murder case and are working to gather more information about the incident.
Reaction from the Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association (CATA)
The Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association (CATA) has confirmed that the 33-year-old taxi owner was a member of their organization. However, the spokesperson for CATA, Nkululeko Siteyebi, stated that he is not sure what the circumstances surrounding the incident are. Siteyebi said that the association is still trying to gather more information about the shooting, but it has been difficult due to the holiday season. He also expressed concern about the ongoing violence in the taxi industry, stating that the association has been dealing with killings of taxi owners and drivers all year, and is unsure of what the future holds.
Previous Incidents
This incident is not an isolated one, as there have been several other taxi-related killings in the area recently. On December 16, two incidents were recorded, including the shooting of a 55-year-old taxi driver from Bonteheuwel, who was operating in Lavender Hill, and the stabbing of a taxi guard to death in front of the taxi at Delft Mall in Delft. On December 17, a 34-year-old taxi driver was shot and killed by unknown assailants in Seawinds. These incidents have raised concerns about the safety and security of taxi drivers and owners in the area, and the police are working to determine the motives behind these attacks.
Call for Information
The police are appealing to anyone with information about the incident to come forward and assist with the investigation. The public can contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or use the mobile application MySAPS anonymously to provide any information they may have. The police are working to gather more information about the incident and to bring the perpetrator(s) to justice. The Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association (CATA) is also urging anyone with information to come forward and help to bring an end to the violence in the taxi industry.
