Mall of Africa management is once again explaining a shooting incident at a taxi rank on Magwa Crescent in Waterfall City.
On the evening of 3 July, two men were killed by shooters in a white VW Polo. The men are believed to be taxi bosses, however, the provincial police’s Lungelo Dlamini was reluctant to confirm that this was another taxi-related shooting. He said they were still busy investigating the validity of this information.
Previously, on 4 May, there was a shootout at the mall, 53 arrests where made, eight illegal weapons were confiscated and two people were injured.
This time, the mall’s brand manager, Vanessa Fourie said normal mall activities were continuing amidst the investigation into the fatal shooting. On 7 July she said, “An ongoing investigation is underway with the police.”
Read: WATCH: Shootout at Mall of Africa
When questioned about the safety of mall patrons, Fourie said that they had increased their private security capacity in and outside the mall in areas that had been identified as hotspots. “We are working closely with the police,” she said.
Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport, Ismail Vadi said that they were disappointed to hear of the shooting – especially after having had a successful taxi Indaba on 29 May.
In a statement, he referred to the men who had been shot as two taxi drivers.
“We are deeply disappointed that the shootings occurred just a few days after the Gauteng Provincial Government held a successful Taxi Indaba where issues relating to the taxi industry and taxi violence were discussed,” he said.
Read: Vadi condemns Mall of Africa shooting
Vadi said that a special task team had been appointed to resolve the issues plaguing the Mall of Africa taxi route. “Government has appointed four senior religious leaders from the South African Council of Churches in an effort to broker an agreement between the Alexandra Taxi Association and Alexandra Randburg Midrand and Sandton Taxi Association in an effort to prevent further violence,” he said.
The MEC did not comment on resolutions that had been previously reached with the two associations. His office referred queries to the Department of Community Safety, who referred all queries to Dlamini.
By the time of publication, Dlamini could not be reached to comment further on the 53 arrests that had previously been made.
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