Two taxi owners brutally gunned down in Moot
Police have launched a manhunt for five men who fired multiple gunshots at two taxi owners who died at a car wash in East Lynn in the moot of Pretoria on Friday.
About 57 empty cartridges were found on the scene after two taxi owners were shot and killed at an East Lynne car wash in the Moot of Pretoria on Friday.
“Five unknown men drove into a carwash at the corner of Badenhorst and Baviaanspoort streets in East Lynn on Friday around 15:38,” said Villieria police spokesperson, Warrant Officer Miranda Austin.
They were driving a white Polo with an unknown registration number.
One of the victims was reportedly from the East Lynn taxi association and the other one was from KwaMhlanga.
Both were declared dead on the scene from multiple gunshot wounds.
The victims were both men, aged 38 and 43. No one else was injured in the incident, according to Austin.
The suspects fled the scene.
“This is a very serious crime,” said Austin.
“It was the first incident of this kind in our policing area.”
Austin said the murders were being investigated by the provincial taxi violence unit, which specialises in taxi-related crimes.
A staff member at the car wash, who wished to remain anonymous, said that they were traumatised by the shooting.
“Several shots were fired,” the staff member told Rekord.
“I’m sure the victims were shot more than 10 times each.”
The staff member said the two victims were sitting in an area for customers while waiting for their cars to be washed.
“A car just came in and stopped where the guys were sitting and started firing. No one else was injured or threatened – only these two guys.
“It was horrible and traumatic. There was blood on the floor. We did receive trauma counselling, but it will take some time for the guys to heal from that incident. It was our first time witnessing a shooting.”
Gauteng transport department spokesperson Theo Nkonki urged police to bring those guilty of the crime to book.
Earlier this month the Gauteng government released findings of its commission of inquiry into taxi violence appointed by premier David Makhura in September 2019.
This after recurring conflict, violence, fatalities and instability within the minibus taxi service industry within the province.
According to the commission, about 505 taxi industry violence-related cases were being probed.
During November and December 2019, more than 12 people were shot and killed in the province in connection with taxi violence.
The commission found that recurring conflict, violence and fatalities in the industry among many other things were fuelled by fights over taxi routes, a management position at the associations, money and legal as well as illegal operations.
The Olievenhoutbosch area in Tshwane was found to be one of the hotspots for taxi violence-related incidents.
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