Western Cape police have arrested a 32-year-old man in connection with the fatal shooting of three people in Bellville, Cape Town on Tuesday, February 16.
Police believe the incident, which took place at the intersection of Voortrekker and Charl Malan roads near the public transport interchange, is related to the taxi industry.
Cape Town Etc initially reported that two people were killed at the scene and two more were critically injured. A third victim has since succumbed to their injuries, while the fourth – a bystander – is recovering in hospital, according to police. The identities of the victims are not disclosed at this stage.
“One suspect, a 32-year-old male was arrested and is currently being questioned,” said police spokesperson, Colonel Andre Traut.
He added that two stolen firearms were recovered at the scene and a further three licensed weapons were confiscated as part of the investigation.
The province recorded 92 taxi-related murders and 51 attempted murders in 2020. Nationally, that figure rises to 116 casualties.
Western Cape Transport MEC, Bonginkosi Madikizela met with two taxi associations – Codeta and Santaco Western Cape – to address the issue on Wednesday.
Madikizela urged taxi bosses to assist authorities by identifying criminals within the industry.
He took exception to a letter issued by taxi association, Codeta on February 17. The letter intimated that the association wanted e-hailing drivers not to pick up any commuters from properties where their taxis operate during staff transportation times.
At the meeting, Codeta agreed to retract the statement, which reportedly caused panic among the public, and admitted that the notice they issued was “badly written.”
The taxi association issued an apology that read: “After a meeting… both parties felt that it was indeed necessary for us to apologise and humble ourselves about the content of the memo and how others may have analysed it.”
Codeta’s apology. pic.twitter.com/y3DFPGoL3I
— MEC Bonginkosi Madikizela (@MadikizelaBongz) February 17, 2021
Codeta said the main aim of the memo was to eliminate illegal operators working their routes.
Madikizela said he was aware of certain individuals that are transporting commuters without the necessary permits to EWN.
“It is Codeta’s responsibility to point out these illegal operators and they don’t have the right to take the law into their own hands and they did raise the issue of them being failed by the people who should be enforcing the law,” he said.
The MEC said he would maintain relations with taxi associations in order to mitigate the violence that plagues the industry.
ALSO READ: Two people killed in taxi-related shooting in Bellville
Picture: Screenshot from video
