Nyanga was the scene of a mass shooting where five people were killed and two others injured, on Monday evening.
Cape Town police confirm brewing taxi war
This incident, according to Western Cape police spokesperson Brigadier Novela Potelwa, took place hours after a conflict was reported at the Cape Town CBD taxi deck.
Police investigating the Nyanga mass shooting have reason to believe that the killings from Monday evening were related to a brewing taxi war that could threaten the lives of innocent commuters.
In a statement, Potelwa confirmed the matter has been handed over to the newly assembled taxi task team for priority investigation.
Nyanga mass shooting: Here’s what happened
Thus far, preliminary evidence suggests that seven individuals who are, in some capacity, part of the taxi industry, were sitting in a minibus at the Nyanga East terminus situated on Sihlanu Avenue “when the gunmen approached and fired numerous shots at approximately 21:30.”
“Four men between the ages of 30 and 36 died on the scene. Three others were taken to a medical facility after sustaining serious injury. A fifth victim died in hospital. Two other victims who sustained injury remain in hospital,” Brig Potelwa reported.
The police also confirmed that preparations are being made to de-escalate any further backlash from those in alliance with the victims.
“In response to the Nyanga shooting incident and another that occurred at the Cape Town station deck taxi hub where several individuals were injured on Monday afternoon, police have bolstered deployments at potential hotspots,” the statement read.
With the motive said to be related to taxi conflict, lead investigators from the task team have utilised all resources to find the suspects responsible for the Nyanga mass shooting.
At the time of publishing this article, no suspects had been arrested for the murders.