THE deadly taxi wars have claimed another life, leaving commuters terrified and families shattered.
The latest victim was gunned down in broad daylight at Ivory Park Taxi Rank in Ekurhuleni on Thursday, 11 June.
It seems the driver who was sitting in his car was shot through the window. Witnesses were left shaking as gunmen opened fire without warning and walked away from the scene as if nothing happened.
"We were passing by when we just saw the driver being shot. It shook me," said a witness.
"This industry is like a war zone. Taximen die at any given time."
"One minute people are queueing for transport, the next minute bullets are flying everywhere. We had to run for cover," said a traumatised commuter.
The multi-billion-rand minibus industry remains the backbone of public transport, but it continues to be haunted by hitmen and turf wars.
Rival associations are constantly locked in bitter disputes over lucrative routes, and it's the drivers, owners, and innocent passengers who pay the ultimate price.
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Santaco said it is frustrated by the ongoing taxi violence.
"We are tired of empty promises. Every time someone gets killed, the police promise to investigate, but nobody ever gets arrested," Santaco's spokeswoman Rebecca Phala said.
A case of murder was opened at Ivory Park police station.
