A taxi owner was gunned down in Diepkloof, Soweto, on Tuesday afternoon while getting a haircut, in what police suspect may be another incident linked to the ongoing turf war between rival taxi associations in the area.
The brazen attack took place inside a local barbershop. According to an eyewitness, three armed men entered the salon and opened fire on the victim, who was seated and waiting for a haircut. A visibly shaken barber, who narrowly escaped the shooting, recounted the terrifying ordeal, saying he initially did not see the gunmen enter but was jolted by the sound of gunshots.
“They checked for a pulse on his neck and when they found one, they shot him again three times,” the barber said. “I’m very lucky to be alive. One of the two pointed a firearm at me after firing. I never thought I would live to tell the story.”
The victim, whose identity has not yet been released, was reportedly not a regular customer at the salon. While the motive for the killing remains under investigation, a police officer speaking anonymously suggested it may be tied to violent clashes between competing taxi groups over control of routes in Soweto.
This latest incident comes just a day after three taxi marshals affiliated with the Witwatersrand African Taxi Association were ambushed and killed in Mofolo Central, Soweto, on their way to work. Witnesses described a high-speed chase before the suspects opened fire, ensuring that none of the victims survived.
The surge in violence has heightened fears among residents and those working in the taxi industry, with many now concerned about their safety amid what appears to be a worsening conflict.
Gauteng police spokesperson Colonel Noxolo Kweza was not immediately available for comment on the latest killing. Police investigations are ongoing.
