The Gauteng Provincial Police spokesperson Captain Kay Makhubela confirmed a manhunt had been launched for the four armed men who allegedly opened fire on taxi drivers on the corner of Gordon and Hendrik Potgieter Roads in Florida on Friday morning, 13 November.
“A preliminary report suggests that about four men driving in a Ford Fiesta stopped at the intersection and got out of their vehicle armed with rifles. They allegedly started shooting at the group of taxi drivers in Florida and fled the scene,” he explained.
He further explained that as a result four taxi drivers were shot and injured, and taken to hospital for urgent medical treatment.
ER24 treated the injured men who attempted to evade the bullets.
Russel Meiring, the spokesperson for ER24 confirmed the injuries of five men.
“At approximately 8am, numerous units from the ER24 Johannesburg West branch arrived on the scene. On closer inspection, medics found one man lying inside a small shop while five other men were found lying on the pavement.
“Medics assessed the patients and found that three had sustained numerous gunshot wounds and were in a critical condition, while two others had sustained serious gunshot wounds. A sixth man had escaped with only a minor injury to his ankle,” Meiring explained.
He said medics treated the patients and provided them with advanced life support interventions before they were transported to hospitals in the area for further care.
Makhubela added that further investigations are under way.
While the community is still recovering from the traumatic cash-in-transit shooting which claimed the life of beloved tow truck driver, Shane Williams, residents should likely brace themselves for the sound of more gunshots ‘thanks’ to the ongoing taxi violence in the area.
To substantiate this claim, on Tuesday night, 10 November, the body of an unknown man with two bullet wounds was found lying in between two taxis in Quellerina. The following day, the Record received reports of another taxi-related shooting on the corner of CR Swart and Ontdekkers Roads.
This is a developing story.
