UPDATE: Passengers manage to escape from taxi engulfed by flames (Video)

UPDATE:8 June 2016, 9:30am – According to Netcare911, the passengers of the taxi that burst into flames earlier this morning on Oxford Road managed to escape unharmed.

Netcare911 posted on their facebook page after they had responded to the incident. Luckily, thanks to the awareness by the taxi driver, who noticed smoke coming out from the taxi, he acted immediately by swerving of the road and that was when the passengers exited the taxi.

Netcare911 posted on their facebook page:

No injuries were reported after a taxi caught fire on Oxford road near the M16 in Saxonwold. Reports from the scene indicate that the taxi was full at the time of the incident. According to reports the driver of the taxi noticed smoke coming from the taxi, he swerved to get the taxi out of the road and that is when all passengers managed to get out of the taxi before it burst into flames. Netcare911 paramedics were on scene as well as the Rosebank Fire Department to extinguish the fire. This incident happened this morning at about 7am.

INITIAL REPORT: 8 June 2016, 8am – At around 7am on the morning of 8 June, reports came in regarding a mini bus taxi that had caught alight on Oxford Road, after Victoria road near Hollard in Parktown.

In a video posted on Twitter by Shameema Manuel and shared by EWN, it appears as if the fire had spread from the taxi to engulf a tree near where the taxi had stopped.

Traffic in the area is slow and motorists are urged to take alternative routes until the taxi has been cleared.

At the time of publication, no injuries had been reported.

This is a developing story. Updates will be published as they are received.