Bellville taxi rank
Latest Bellville taxi rank shooting claims another life
A case of murder has been opened for investigation and two suspects have been arrested.
According to Western Cape Transport MEC Bonginkosi Madikizela, there were 56 taxi-related murders and 32 attempted murders since the start of the year.
Officers were deployed to the taxi rank on Wednesday afternoon following reports of a shooting.
The party's Cape Town council caucus said that the official was released without being charged.
One person was killed and two others were wounded in two shooting incidents at the Bellville taxi rank last week.
Unknown gunmen fired shots at the rank killing a commuter, injuring another and a taxi operator. The shooting incidents are believed to be linked to an ongoing taxi feud between taxi operators.
This after two taxi operators were wounded in separate shootings on Friday morning.
Some commuters have spoken to Eyewitness News about their fears of taking a taxi or bus during the COVID-19 lockdown but say they have no choice but to go back to earn a living.
Officials closed the Bellville and the Bloekombos taxi ranks in Kraaifontein following conflict and shootings last weekend, but they’ve since been re-opened.
Since the closure of the ranks, the Western Cape Transport Department and the City of Cape Town have facilitated several discussions with the associations.
The provincial Transport Department says it will only reopen the rank once it’s satisfied rival taxi groups have settled their dispute.
The Western Cape Transport Department says the Bellville taxi rank will remain closed until police have given the all-clear.
The City of Cape Town, South African Police Service and Metro Police have started impounding illegal taxis on the affected routes.
The Bloekombos taxi rank in Kraaifontein has also been closed due tenses ion between taxi associations.
The Western Cape Transport Department says the Bellville taxi rank will remain closed until police have given the all-clear.
On Saturday, shots were fired between two groups at the rank and on Friday three people were shot; two of them were bystanders.
Earlier on Saturday, there had been more shooting believed to be taxi-related.
An eyewitness working at the rank told Eyewitness News the driver was an illegal operator on the popular Cape Town-Bellville route.
Santaco says it’s concerned about the violence which could affect innocent commuters in Cape Town.