Two taxi bosses were killed and another was injured when gunmen allegedly opened fire at Parkgate Taxi Rank in Verulam on Tuesday morning.
Prem Balram of Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) said the drive-by shooting left two taxi bosses dead and one food stall owner injured at Parkgate Taxi Rank in Verulam on Tuesday morning.
According to Captain Ntathu Ndlovu, provincial police spokesperson, the police are investigating a case of attempted murder and two counts of murder following the incident.
“Two male victims aged between 26 and 32 were shot and killed, while a third victim was wounded and taken to the hospital for medical treatment,” she said.
Ndlovu said the two victims were standing near a food stall when a grey vehicle with two unknown male suspects inside stopped near them and started shooting.
She said no arrests have been made.
Balram believes these violent crimes are attributed to rivalry and drug dealing, claiming there has been a drastic increase in violent crimes in Verulam and surrounding areas.
“I believe that visible policing and arresting drug lords can tackle these violent crimes. Reducing gang-related crimes could also reduce violent crimes,” he said.
He said it is no longer safe in the streets of Verulam and surrounding areas.
“We have seen a spike in violent crimes recently, and it has become a trend that daily we are dealing with murders, recovering human bodies on the side of the roads, and drive by shooting,” Balram said.
Commenting on the incident, Balram said witnesses at the scene reported hearing multiple gunshots before noticing a grey vehicle fleeing the area.
“Our members found that a taxi boss and a food stall owner had been fatally shot. A second taxi boss was found seated inside a white Nissan bakkie with multiple gunshot wounds to his abdomen,” he said.
Balram added the survivor said that he and his friend, both taxi bosses, were seated with the owner inside the informal food stall, as they normally did, when an unknown grey vehicle approached.
“The occupants allegedly opened fire on them. Two rifle cartridge casings and one projectile were recovered at the scene. Our paramedics stabilised the injured man before transporting him to a medical facility,” he said.
