BOPHELONG – A taxi operator was shot and killed in Bophelong Extension 2 on Wednesday, October 4, in full view of horrified passengers.
According to an eyewitness, a trio pretended to hail a taxi near the gashouse, and when the driver stopped, he was shot three times.
Following the shooting, the men ran into the reeds along X road.
In a moment of shock, the driver drove off and the taxi lost control and plunged into a tree.
Speaking to Sedibeng Ster, a bloodied passenger who refused to be named shared the details of the harrowing incident.
“I caught the taxi in Vanderbijlpark and the driver had Bophelong passengers. The taxi was actually taking us to Sasolburg. As we drove in Bophelong, three men stood near a bush with reeds and stopped the taxi. The shooter who covered his head with a hoody asked the driver if the taxi was going to pass at Delfos,” she said.
The witness said a moment after the driver answered, one of the suspects took a gun and opened fire.
“We hid for cover as the shooter prayed the gun on the taxi drive. We lay on the floor of the taxi as the incident happened. I only counted three gunshots, all of them pierced the driver,” said the visibly shaking woman.
Another passenger who also asked to remain anonymous said “After the shots, the men ran into the bushes and the driver drove away while he was shot. He lost control of the taxi and plunged into a tree.”
“We all exited the taxi, including the shot driver fearing the men may still be around. The driver fell on the ground, a couple of kilometers from his minibus, and ended there,” said a man in his work uniform.
After the incident, Ward 7 Councillor Nkosinathi Ndwandwe shot a video reporting the incident.
“I was called to the scene and told the story of what happened. We managed to call the police and an ambulance. What happened here proves that crime is very high and there are many firearms in our community. We need to stand up as residents and fight this crime,” he said.
Sedibeng cluster police spokesperson Captain Teboho Lephoto said a murder case is investigated.
“At this stage no suspect has been arrested. The motive is unknown at this stage and investigations are continuing,” he said.
