Two taxi drivers were killed and three other people were wounded in separate shootings in Strand and Macassar on Tuesday morning, just hours apart, in what police believe were unrelated incidents.

The first attack took place in Strand, where a 35-year-old woman transporting schoolchildren was ambushed on Onverwacht Road.

According to witnesses, she was shot in the face and chest as young children sat in the vehicle.

Community members described being startled by the sudden gunfire.

“We didn’t see who shot at the taxi, but when we went outside to look, we saw the woman and the children were visibly shocked. A car came to take the victim to the hospital,” one resident said.

Minutes later, another woman rushed to the scene in a panic, fearing her neighbour’s child might have been among the victims.

“I was worried that she was also injured, but I received a call that she made it to school. The shooters didn’t even care that there were small children inside the taxi. The driver is not involved in the taxi industry; she just runs school transport,” she explained.

Police spokesperson Warrant Officer Joseph Swartbooi said officers were called to the scene and found the wounded woman still sitting in her Toyota Quantum.

“According to our information, Lwandle police officers responded to the complaint of a shooting incident in progress. They left the office and drove to Onverwacht Street, where they found the Toyota Quantum. Upon further inspection, they found a female aged 35 who was still sitting inside the vehicle. She was disoriented, owing to the gunshot wounds that she sustained. She was then transported to the nearby hospital. The suspects fled the scene. We have registered an attempted murder case.”

Swartbooi stressed that the Strand shooting seemed to be an isolated incident.

“At this stage, there is no indication that this attack is linked to taxi violence. Our investigation is focused on the circumstances surrounding this specific case,” he said.

While the Strand community was reeling from the incident, another shooting unfolded just a few hours earlier in Macassar, where two taxi drivers from the Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association (Cata) were gunned down at a pick-up point on Mandela Drive.

Police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Malcolm Pojie confirmed the details.

“Provincial Detectives from the Serious and Violent Crimes, Taxi Unit are probing the circumstances surrounding a shooting incident which claimed the lives of two men and left two bystanders injured in the early hours of Tuesday, 26 August 2025, at the Macassar Heights taxi pick-up point,” he said.

Pojie said preliminary findings indicated that the shooters deliberately targeted the drivers. “Preliminary information reveals that unknown armed men approached the taxi pick-up point, opened fire, and fatally shot and killed two males. Two bystanders were caught in the crossfire and sustained gunshot wounds to the body. They were transported to a nearby hospital for treatment.”

Detectives have since registered two counts of murder and two counts of attempted murder. “Forensic experts combed the scene for clues and evidence. The motive for this shooting is believed to be taxi-conflict related. The suspects fled the scene in an unknown getaway vehicle and are yet to be arrested,” Pojie added.

It is unclear what the conflict between Cata and Cape Organisation for the Democratic Taxi Association (Codeta) is about, but over the last five days, nine drivers have been killed and six injured.

Cata spokesperson Nkululeko Sityebi has called for calm as they find solutions.

“We are saddened to have lost two of our members on Tuesday morning in Macassar. We would like to send our deepest condolences to their families and ask the law enforcement to leave no stone unturned, and hope that they will make an arrest soon.”

Police have urged anyone with information to come forward.

“Anyone with information which could lead to the arrest of the suspects is requested to please contact Detective Captain Lukhunyo Magadla on 082 411 3245 or Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or through the MySAPS mobile application anonymously. All information will be dealt with confidentially,” said Pojie.

mandilakhe.tshwete@inl.co.za 

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