Gauteng police are investigating the killing of the Chairperson of the National Taxi Alliance (NTA) in Gauteng, Thami Moyo.
This after he was shot several times earlier today while driving his vehicle at the Soweto Highway in Diepkloof by unknown people.
According to Gauteng Police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo, the motive for the shooting is still unknown, but cannot however rule out that it is taxi related.
“We cannot confirm that it is related to taxi violence, but we suspect that it is related to taxi violence, considering that the victim is the chairperson of the taxi association.
He was driving alone in his car from Soweto towards town, when he was stopped by suspects who were driving two vehicles, a minibus taxi, and a Toyota Yaris.
The suspects then fired several shots at him, nothing has been taken from the car, so it shows that it was a hit.
Nothing was taken from the victim’s vehicle, the intention was to kill him,” said Masondo.
Furthermore, Masondo said members of the Taxi Violence Task Team are also at the crime scene, and will take over the investigations, once it is confirmed that it is taxi related.
Today’s shooting come on the heels of several taxi-related violence and killings in Soweto and other areas in the province.
Masondo said the police have made several in-roads to curb taxi violence in the province, which has led to the arrest of some taxi owners and hitman, who are appearing at several courts in the province.
He said this is done with several stakeholders, which include the provincial Department of Transport, and the office of the Gauteng Premier, among others.
He appealed to anyone who might have witnessed the incident or have knowledge of it, to contact the nearest police station with the information that will lead to the arrest of the perpetrators.
Meanwhile, the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) has warned motorists that both directions on the route have been temporarily blocked off to traffic between the N1 and Immink Drive.
“Motorists are advised to exercise patience and caution and to avoid the route as vehicles are being diverted at the N1 and Immink Drive,” read a statement from the JMPD
