The City of Cape Town is offering an R100 000 reward for information that leads to the arrest and prosecution of those who targeted police officials and municipality workers.
Also read: EFF slams JP Smith and blames the City for taxi turmoil
This comes after the recent unrest and violence in Nyanga and surrounding areas. The latest violence allegedly erupted as the City continued its clamp down on illegal taxi operators.
The reward was offered after two off-duty police constables were shot at traffic lights in Khayelitsha on Friday while travelling in a marked vehicle, reports News 24.
In other incidents, City staff members and vehicles were targeted recently when taxi-related violence in Nyanga and surrounding areas reached boiling point on Friday.
Seven people were arrested in connection with the violence, which led to several road closures.
City mayoral committee member for safety and security JP Smith, said authorities were aware of claims that people in the taxi industry were collecting funds to hire “hitmen” to target police officers and other law enforcement services employees.
“It is with regret that such an apparent assassination was targeted last night against two SAPS officials at the intersections of Govan Mbeki and Swartklip Roads,” said Smith
SAPS spokesperson Captain FC van Wyk said a 72-hour activation plan had been put in place to ensure the arrest of the gunmen who attacked the police constables, aged 29 and 30, on Friday night.
Police have since appealed to Khayelitsha residents to help them track down the perpetrators. Khayelitsha police opened two attempted murder cases, Van Wyk added.
This week, City law enforcement officials impounded 43 vehicles – 36 amaphela (sedan taxis) and seven minibuses.
The City and taxi operators have been locked in an ongoing dispute over permits which led to the spike in violence in the area.
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Picture: JP Smith/ Facebook