Two men connected to the taxi industry in Johannesburg have been murdered in cold blood on Tuesday. Police are appealing to the public to help them with information to track the killers.

In Benoni, a taxi owner was killed inside a shop in the CBD on the corner of Voortrekker Street and Harpur Avenue, after gunmen opened fire shortly after he left his vehicle.

Captain Nomsa Sekele, spokesperson for the Benoni Police Station, says the 37-year-old victim was allegedly followed by two men, one armed, after he left his vehicle at the taxi rank and walked to the shop.

“The suspects fatally wounded the driver in the torso but continued firing more shots into the shop as they made their way to an unidentified get-away vehicle. No further injuries were recorded.”

Benoni SAPS are investigating the murder and appealed to the public to share information via the Crime Stop hotline on 08600 10111 or the MySAPS app.

In nearby Springs, police are also investigating a taxi related murder after a taxi owner from Everest was found dead with head injuries.

Springs police spokesperson Sergeant Themba Tshabalala says it is currently unknown what instrument was used to cause the fatal injuries.

“A family member who was at the scene confirmed that a cellphone and car keys found inside the car belonged to the deceased,” Tshabalala says.

“We suspect that the deceased was kidnapped, murdered and later dumped here because there are no blood traces in the car,” he adds.

Anyone with information that could help with the investigation is encouraged to inform the police via the Crime Stop or MySAPS app channels or contact the Springs police on 011 365 5700.