A British doctor was fatally shot after taking a wrong turn from the Cape Town International Airport and driving into the Nyanga township, where violent protests linked to the taxi strike were underway.
Also read: Taxi strike update: Motorists cautioned about high risk areas
According to The Guardian, the 40-year-old man was accompanied by two family members. Several people allegedly approached his vehicle at Ntlangano Crescent and fired shots at him, says Lirandzu Themba, a spokesperson for the police minister.
No arrests have been made. The Foreign Office says it is supporting his family and has advised Britons to be on alert while travelling in South Africa. The United Kingdom issued a warning to travellers on 5 August, cautioning that the taxi strike in Cape Town could turn violent and that it ‘may impact multiple areas including journeys to and from the airport.’
Since the start of the strike on 1 August, five people have been killed and a number of vehicles burnt and stoned. Individuals have blocked roadways, destroyed property and thrown rocks. About 120 people have been arrested since Thursday for various offences, including malicious damage to property, public violence and looting.
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The South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) called for the one-week strike after negotiations with local government on issues with the City of Cape Town’s new by-laws failed. The law grants local authorities the power to impound vehicles for infractions such as driving without a licence or registration plates, or not wearing a seatbelt.
Santaco has condemned the violence, saying that its members are not the ones instigating it. As per a statement, the organisation noted that it is ‘Especially aggrieved by the perception of the public that we are lawless. The perception is being fuelled by protesters and not members of our organisation.’
On Monday, authorities cleared roads to allow traffic to flow and impounded 52 minibus taxis simultaneously.
Also read:
UK issues travel warning over potential violent protests amid Cape Town taxi strike
Picture: JP Smith / Facebook