LESS than a month after two taxi associations operating in Tembisa agreed to work together, another taxi owner was shot dead at the same taxi rank involved in the taxi violence.
A case of murder has been opened after the taxi owner was gunned down at Esangweni Taxi Rank in Tembisa at 6pm on Wednesday night last week.
According to eyewitnesses, the man was shot and killed by another taxi owner.
Tembisa SAPS spokesman, Capt Manyadza Ralidzivha, confirmed a murder case was registered.
“No arrests have been made. Police are investigating the case,” he added.
Calm was restored to Esangweni Taxi Rank early in August following the death of a commuter due to taxi violence in July.
Tembisa Alexandra Taxi Association (TATA) and Midrand Taxi Association (MIDTA) executive members, police and Ekurhuleni Metro Police met at Tembisa South Police Station to iron out issues affecting their business operations.
The successful talks were sealed with the signing of an operational agreement.
At the time, five suspects were arrested in connection with the taxi violence in Tembisa.
The agreement signed entailed that both associations pledged to work together peacefully as both were entitled to operate the same route, as per the legal permission granted through registration with the Department of Transport.
The heavily contested route, which led to the recent taxi war, runs to and from Titeng Taxi Rank in Tembisa to Kyalami via Waterfall Mall Taxi Rank in Midrand.
Furthermore, the parties agreed to hold monthly meetings which would enable all stakeholders to address all challenges faced by the operators collectively.
In another incident on Friday a taxi owner was shot and killed in Phomolong at about 8am.
According to Rabie Ridge SAPS the taxi owner, driving in a white Toyata Hilux, had just dropped off a child at a school when the occupants of a blue Mercedes Benz opened fire at the corner of Mdaka and Pollsmoor streets.
Constable Jacob Nhlongo said the deceased, who was the chairperson of Johannesburg Taxi Association, sustained chest wounds. “The reason for the shooting has not yet been established,” Const Nhlongo said.
