Santaco activates safety plan after murder of two taxi drivers

The SA National Taxi Council (Santaco) in Tshwane has activated a “peace force” to monitor the Bosman and Jerusalem ranks at Marabastad after two taxi drivers were gunned down in Gauteng.

The taxi drivers, belonging to the Santaco-affiliated Johannesburg, Pretoria, Mabopane Transport taxi association (JPM), were gunned down in full view of passengers in separate shootings on Friday morning and evening while travelling between Joburg and Pretoria.

Santaco spokesperson Macdonald Makata said though the attacks took place at the MTN taxi rank in Joburg, Johannesburg, they will be focusing on the two hotspots in Tshwane.

“We will be focusing on these two spots for now because we have addressed the other areas and it has been quiet since. I think visibility will also help put out the flames.

“Though the incident happened in Joburg, it is our association, the association is affiliated to Santaco Tshwane, so it is only right for us to come and support the executive and hear what causes these killings.

“These faceless killers ... why are they so happy killing people?” he asked.

“We can't fold arms when our drivers are being killed, those are our human resources.

“We are here to activate the peace force. We are also making a plea to those trigger-happy people, what they are doing is causing damage to the industry.

“The industry is bleeding already due to Covid-19. We cannot afford to lose members due to the barrel of a gun. If there are differences, let the differences be addressed amicably and everybody lives,” Makata said.

Police are searching for the suspects. Spokesperson Lt-Col Mavela Masondo said the motive behind the killings had not yet been established but they were suspected to be related to taxi violence.

“In the first incident that happened at about 8.30am on Friday, it is reported that the driver of a white Mercedes-Benz Sprinter minibus was at a taxi rank preparing to load, when an unknown man came to the driver's door and started shooting towards the driver. He was certified dead at the scene,” he said.

“In the second incident, at the same taxi rank at about 6.15pm, it is alleged a taxi driver was loading passengers when he was approached by two men who shot at him. He was certified dead at the scene.”

Masondo said two cases of murder were opened. Police appealed for anyone with information that could help investigators to come forward.

Santaco has offered counselling to commuters affected by the shooting.

“The [one] driver was driving out of the rank with full capacity. Imagine the people in that particular car — that is trauma,” Makata said.

Chairperson of the JPM taxi association Thomas Masase has called for calm.

“This morning and yesterday, I addressed the drivers to tell them to continue working and to be calm,” he said.

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