Five men were killed within minutes of each other in two apparently taxi-motivated drive-by shootings on the R102 in Tongaat this afternoon.

The motive for the hits has not been confirmed, but it is believed that a local taxi boss was targeted and that both incidents were linked given their quick succession.

It follows a week of shootings in KwaZulu-Natal after five people were killed in separate incidents in Springfield Park and the Berea on Tuesday.

At around 1.15pm, two men were killed near the intersection of the R102 (Gopalall Hurbans Road) and the M43 (Watson Highway).

It is understood they were stationary at the traffic lights when an unknown number of assailants from a passing car opened fire on their VW Polo.

The victims were driving a branded ‘park and fly’ service car from the nearby King Shaka International Airport.

“The men were both declared dead on scene with multiple bullet wounds. The third passenger in the car, a woman, was injured in the shooting but was stabilised by paramedics and taken to hospital for further treatment,” said IPSS Medical Rescue spokesperson, Dylan Meyrick.

Minutes later, three men were killed in a separate drive-by shooting with suspected high calibre weapons at the intersection of the R102 and R614 (Noodesberg Road).

The intersection is approximately four kilometres north of the first incident – it is currently unclear whether it was the same gunmen involved.

“A Ford Ranger bakkie carrying five men was shot at near the traffic lights. The men were security officers in uniform,” said Meyrick.

Both other passengers were seriously injured, with one in critical condition when paramedics arrived.

According to Reaction Unit South African spokesperson, Prem Balram, the men in the Ford Ranger were armed taxi security guards.

“After the second shooting, a man arrived at the scene in a white Mercedes and identified himself as a taxi boss. He said he was the target of the hits, but was able to escape on the R614,” said Balram.

The man had allegedly been a target of a third shooting today, but escaped the attackers after abandoning his car on the R614, he said.

“The taxi boss and his driver were both bloodied but not seriously injured. The details of the third shooting are not yet clear,” said Balram.

Tongaat Saps confirmed the details of the first two shootings and that no suspects had been arrested at time of publication, but were unable to provide further comment.

Helicopters have been called in to help with the search for the suspects.

Both scenes are active and residents are urged to avoid the area where possible.

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