A TAXI owner affiliated to the Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association (CATA) has been shot and killed on Sunday night - the fourth taxi-related killing in the last week amid a flare-up in violence.
The 33-year-old was gunned down at 10.30pm while sitting inside his Toyota Fortuner in Mashakane Street, Lwandle, Somerset West.
Police spokesperson Captain FC van Wyk confirmed that Lwandle police are investigating a case of murder.
Van Wyk reported: “Circumstances surrounding a shooting incident on Sunday night at 10.30pm at Mashakane Street, Lwandle where the body of a 33-year-old male was found are under investigation.
"According to reports SAPS members received a complaint of a shooting incident at the mentioned address and on arrival they found the male sitting in the driver 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. The suspect/s fled the scene and are yet to be arrested. Lwandle police registered a murder case."
It has been confirmed that the 33-year-old taxi owner was part of the Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association (CATA).
Cata spokesperson Nkululeko Siteyebi said that he is not sure what are the circumstances surrounding this incident.
“I do not know what transpired regarding this shooting, all the people are on holiday so we only have police assisting us when it comes to information, the only people who can assist with information are those who were at the crime scene.
"We do not know what the shootings is all about The whole year we have been dealing with killings of taxi owners and drivers, we do not know what is going to happen next year. We will have to talk about it in the new year.”
Police are appealing to anyone with any information about this incident can contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or use the mobile application MySAPS anonymously.
This is the fourth taxi relayed incident recorded in one week.
Two incidents were recorded on 16 December in which a 55-year-old taxi driver from Bonteheuwel was shot dead while operating in Lavender Hill and a taxi guard was stabbed to death in front of the taxi at Delft Mall in Delft.
On 17 December, a 34-year-old taxi driver was shot and killed by unknown assailants in Seawinds.