Fatal Shooting in Lwandle Sparks Fears of Renewed Taxi Violence

Residents of Lwandle, near Somerset West, are reeling after a deadly shooting involving a minibus taxi left one person dead and two others wounded on Monday evening.

According to police, the attack happened around 5pm, leaving a 44-year-old man shot multiple times behind the driver’s seat of a white Toyota Quantum. Two passengers, including a woman, survived with injuries and were rushed to hospital.

Police spokesperson Frederick van Wyk confirmed that detectives are investigating a case of murder and two counts of attempted murder. “The circumstances around this shooting incident are under investigation. The motive forms part of our investigations,” he said.

A Region on Edge

The shooting has reignited fears of renewed taxi-related violence in the Western Cape. Just weeks ago, Western Cape Mobility MEC Isaac Sileku enforced a 30-day shutdown of routes linking Khayelitsha, Mfuleni, and Somerset West after deadly clashes between rival taxi associations CATA and CODETA.

Those clashes, driven by disputes over lucrative routes, brought parts of the province to a standstill earlier this month. While authorities have not yet confirmed a link between Monday’s Lwandle shooting and the ongoing feud, the similarities in timing and location have left many locals uneasy.

Community members say the area has been tense since the shutdown began, with several commuters turning to alternative transport options out of fear. “It feels like we’re living in a war zone,” said one Lwandle resident on social media. “Every few months it’s the same story people are scared to even get in a taxi.”

Calls for Calm and Action

The Western Cape government has been vocal about tackling taxi violence, calling it a threat to commuter safety and local livelihoods. MEC Sileku previously warned that authorities would not hesitate to impose stricter measures if violence continued.

Meanwhile, residents are urging police to increase visibility and protection in Lwandle and nearby communities. “We can’t keep burying people because of route wars,” another local posted on Facebook.

As investigations continue, the Lwandle shooting stands as another tragic reminder of how fragile peace remains in the Western Cape’s taxi industry and how urgently lasting solutions are needed.

{Source:EWN}

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