Johannesburg - The police are looking for the killers of the deputy chairman of the Nancefield Dube West Taxi Association who was killed in a drive-by shooting in Rockville, Soweto, on Tuesday.
According to police spokesman Captain Mpande Khoza, taxi boss Musawenkosi Buthelezi, 45, had just left his mother’s home when unknown men driving a black VW Polo suddenly opened fire on him, killing him instantly.
Buthelezi was travelling with his mother in his car when he was ambushed.
She was shot in the hand and rushed to hospital.
Khoza said Buthelezi was struck by several bullets in the upper body.
He said this latest taxi killing was probably related to the fight about a taxi route from Mofolo via Orlando.
Khoza was certain Buthelezi’s murder was a hit, but it was not clear why he was targeted.
“No suspects have been arrested. The police have opened a case of murder and attempted murder, and the investigation is continuing.
“This incident is preceded by various taxi violence incidents which took place from last year,” he said.
Khoza said the feuding taxi associations started fighting for the route two years ago, but it became serious towards the end of last year.
Last week, four people were wounded when security guards working for a rival taxi association started firing shots at a taxi driver from the Witwatersrand African Taxi Association when he was picking up passengers in Mofolo North.
“Innocent passengers were caught in the crossfire.
“Luckily they were using rubber bullets,” he said.
The police arrested four security guards in connection with the shooting. They were found in possession of three R5 rifles with 120 rounds of live ammunition, two 9mm pistols with 15 live rounds as well as three paintball guns with 178 rubber bullets.
Khoza said they had been charged with attempted murder and malicious damage to property.
In 2014, a task team consisting of the SAPS, the Johannesburg metro police and Gauteng traffic police was formed to investigate and combat the ongoing taxi violence that continues to bedevil the industry.
The Star