Police in Mtubatuba, KwaZulu-Natal, are investigating the motive behind the killing of a taxi marshall who was shot dead at a petrol station on Friday afternoon.

The victim was travelling in a private vehicle with a passenger, who has been rushed to hospital.

Police and emergency services were at the scene on Friday evening.

According to witnesses, the suspects were travelling in a taxi when they ambushed the private vehicle in which the deceased and injured were travelling.

It is alleged that the suspects then fled the scene and abandoned the taxi at an unknown location.

The taxi was recovered by police and returned to the scene of the crime.

Police spokesperson Captain Sbusiso Mkhize, who was at the scene, said a case will be registered and further details provided at a later stage.