Another Taxi Association Leader Gunned Down in Gauteng, Community Fears Violence is Spiraling

Woodmead shooting raises fresh alarms as taxi feud claims yet another life

Late-night traffic usually fades into a quiet hum in Woodmead, Sandton. But on Thursday night, that calm shattered when gunfire tore through a parking lot leaving a 52-year-old taxi association official dead and Gauteng residents once again grappling with a familiar horror.

Police say the man was standing with a companion around 10.30pm when two armed suspects with automatic rifles approached and opened fire without warning. The official died at the scene. The second man’s condition has not been confirmed, adding yet another layer of uneasy silence to an already tense situation.

Authorities believe the killing is linked to ongoing turf tensions between rival Alexandra taxi associations a conflict many locals say has been bubbling beneath the surface for years.

Lt-Colonel Mavela Masondo confirmed that a murder case is under investigation, urging anyone with information to contact the police or Crime Stop on 08600 10111.

A Pattern Too Familiar

This shooting comes barely weeks after another high-profile assassination in the sector. In October, the chairperson of the Alexandra Randburg Midrand Sandton Taxi Association (ARMSTA), Molefe Moekeletsi, was killed alongside his bodyguard in Marlboro Gardens.

Police later discovered an abandoned BMW suspected to have been used in the hit a detail that has become painfully common in taxi-related killings across the province.

For residents, it feels like copy-paste tragedy:

• A leader targeted,

• Automatic gunfire,

• getaway vehicle dumped nearby,

• families left in mourning,

• commuters left unsure if tomorrow’s ride is safe.

Each incident sparks conversation, outrage, and calls for intervention and yet, little seems to change.

Taxi Routes, The Unseen Battleground

Taxi violence in Gauteng isn’t new. Routes are currency. Power. Territory.
Control of them determines livelihoods, profitability, and status. When tensions flare, peace often hangs by a thread one broken easily by a trigger.

In Alexandra, where taxi ranks are densely competitive, route disputes have historically escalated into violence. While many operators run ethically and work hard to serve commuters, rogue elements, internal disputes, and unregulated conflict often push the industry into the headlines for the worst reasons.

Community Reaction: “How many more?”

Across social media, shock turned into frustration:

“Another one? How long must people die for a route?”
“This industry needs intervention it’s out of control,”
“Families lose breadwinners, commuters lose transport… we need solutions.”

Many are now calling for tighter policing, mediation between associations, and stronger regulatory oversight. Some also argue for modernising the taxi sector digital permits, route tracking, and stricter leadership accountability.

Because for ordinary South Africans, the fight is not over profits it’s about safety.

A Turning Point, or Just Another Tragedy?

As investigations continue, what remains is grief, unanswered questions, and a ripple of anxiety flowing through Gauteng’s taxi ranks.

A man has died. Another family prepares for a funeral. Drivers will wake up and get behind the wheel at dawn like always, but with a little more caution, a little more fear.

South Africa’s taxi industry is a backbone of public transport, moving millions daily. But until the violence is addressed at its root, stability will remain fragile and tragedies like Woodmead may continue to stain the night.

{Source: IOL}

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