Eighteen suspects arrested in connection with the deadly shooting at Nyanga’s bustling taxi rank appeared in court on Thursday.
Nyanga taxi rank shooting: Here’s what happened in court today
The proceedings were brief, with the case postponed to allow prosecutors to consolidate evidence against the accused.
The suspects face charges of murder, attempted murder, and illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.
Security was tight at the court as family members and taxi association representatives gathered to witness the proceedings.
The court heard preliminary evidence linking the suspects to organised criminal activity allegedly tied to taxi associations based in KwaZulu-Natal.
The state is working to establish connections between the suspects and a criminal ring believed to have orchestrated violent turf wars across multiple provinces.
This claim was bolstered by the confiscation of a cache of weapons, including 13 rifles and seven handguns, during a raid following the arrests.
The matter has been postponed to next week to allow the prosecution additional time to prepare a comprehensive case.
What we know so far about the shooting
The Nyanga taxi rank, a critical hub in Cape Town’s public transport network, became a scene of chaos on the morning of Tuesday, 14 January 2025.
A group of gunmen opened fire indiscriminately, killing one person and injuring seven others, including bystanders.
Police identified the deceased as a security guard employed to mediate disputes between rival taxi groups. The attack is suspected to be linked to ongoing clashes within the taxi industry over routes and control of operations.
Investigators, led by the provincial taxi task team, have highlighted the role of illegal firearms in fueling violence.
In a joint operation with the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (PSIRA), officers recovered a significant number of weapons, which are undergoing ballistic testing to determine their origins.
The shooting has drawn condemnation from Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Police. The committee labelled the violence as an “unnecessary loss of life” and called for urgent measures to disarm rogue operators in the industry.
Efforts are underway to enhance security at high-risk taxi ranks across the Western Cape.
SAPS has increased visibility in areas flagged for potential retaliatory attacks, a move aimed at curbing further bloodshed.