Bloody taxi war continues with brutal killing

A man was brutally gunned down on Tuesday in the Mthanti area (Ezakheni Industrial).

Gunshots echoed through the hills of Ezakheni near the Water Works, with the sound of automatic gunfire. Nearby residents claim to have heard the sound of gunfire along the road, followed by an eerie silence.

Ezakheni police were called out to the scene. On arrival, emergency personnel found two men with gunshot wounds.

At least 26 empty cartridges were scattered around the crime scene, as the men lay in pools of their own blood.

It is believed that a high-powered assault rifle (AK47) was used in the shooting. One of the men was shot in the thigh, while the second victim was shot repeatedly in the upper body at point-blank range, killing him instantly.

EMS medics treated one of the victims for a gunshot wound, while the second victim was declared dead.

The deceased is believed to be a member of the Gamede clan. The ongoing taxi war between the Mabaso and Gamede clans has claimed close to 200 people’s lives.

This latest attack comes barely a week after a female was killed. She is believed to be linked to the Mabaso clan.

She is believed to be the first female to be deliberately targeted in the over 10-year-long taxi war between the two clans.

This marks a dramatic change, as females have previously never been targeted in any ongoing taxi war to date.