By Odwa Bafana Mkentane
Four people were shot in two separate taxi-related incidents in Strand and Kleinvlei within hours on Tuesday.
Western Cape police are investigating two counts of attempted murder following a suspected taxi-related shooting on the R102 near Eerste River. Two men were injured after gunmen allegedly opened fire on a minibus taxi on Tuesday morning, with authorities saying the motive is believed to be linked to the taxi industry.
Police spokesperson Frederick Van Wyk says the injured victim was driving with passengers on his way towards Somerset West on R102.
“It was just before the Baden Powell Bridge when another taxi hooted at him, and he stopped because he was under the impression that they were going to offload passengers to him. People were seen running towards his taxi and randomly started to shoot at him. He drove off along the route on the R102; one wounded passenger (unknown) got out and ran away. He continued and stopped at Shell garage, R102, Firgrove, Macassar where he was transported to a nearby hospital for medical treatment. The motive is believed to be taxi-related,” said Van Wyk.
In another incident, Strand police registered attempted murder cases for investigation, following a shooting incident on Tuesday morning at about 07:40.
Police spokesperson Wesley Twigg has clarified that this incident in Strand occurred on the corner of Broadway and Strand Main Road, where two security guards were shot and wounded.
“Police members responded to a complaint of a shooting, and upon arrival on the scene, they found the victims inside a minibus taxi with gunshot wounds to their bodies. According to reports, the victims were travelling in the minibus taxi when unknown suspects opened fire on the vehicle. The victims were transported to a medical facility for treatment. The suspects fled the scene and are yet to be arrested,” Wesley said.
He added that the circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation and arrests are yet to be made.
Photo: VOCFM
