Four people have been shot and killed in a suspected taxi violence incident at the Dooronfontein taxi rank, Johannesburg, on 20 March.
Image: Supplied/SAPS
While South Africa prepared to commemorate Human Rights Day, a chilling reminder of the fragility of life emerged from Dooronfontein, Johannesburg, where four people were gunned down at a taxi rank on Thursday morning. The horrific incident serves as an alarming indicator of the escalating violence perpetuated by longstanding rivalries in the taxi industry.
Covered in silver emergency foils, the four bodies highlight a catastrophic reality: the ongoing struggle for dominance among taxi associations has transformed into outright warfare. These groups, intent on securing control over lucrative taxi routes, act as if they operate outside the law while instilling fear in the heart of communities across the nation.
This is not an isolated event, nor is it new. For years, the bloodshed associated with the taxi wars has claimed countless lives. Taxi associations have repeatedly demonstrated that they will go to extreme lengths to defend their territorial claims, wielding lethal weapons rather than opting for peaceful negotiations.
The government’s apparent paralysis in addressing this crisis leaves many questioning why the situation continues to spiral out of control. Observers have likened the state’s response to helpless parents watching their children brawl without the means to intervene. Transport ministers have come and gone over the years, yet none have successfully devised a strategy to quell the violence.
Further complicating matters, taxi bosses have exhibited an alarming degree of power, reportedly disrupting government-owned transport services like Rea Vaya. Just last month, taxi patrol cars descended upon Thokoza Park, preventing 45 feeder buses from servicing commuters in Soweto — a dramatic display of power highlighting the taxi industry’s stranglehold on local transport.
The situation has also escalated dangerously for Rea Vaya drivers, who have recently faced targeted attacks. Last month, two drivers in Soweto lost their lives in separate incidents that possibly reflect the growing hostility between competing transport providers. Following the latest violence, a suspect linked to these killings appeared in the Protea Magistrate's Court, though the case has since been postponed for later this month.
With the taxi industry generating an estimated R90 billion annually, the stakes are high; money remains a powerful motivator behind this escalating conflict. Thousands of taxi drivers marched to Pretoria in 2017, demanding action against the ride-hailing service Uber, reflecting the fierce competition in an industry that many rely on for their daily transportation needs.
As the nation’s citizens reflect on human rights and dignity, the looming question remains: When will the government take decisive action to halt this bloodbath? With lives at risk in their pursuit of essential transportation, the public cries out for immediate intervention—no more empty promises, no more delays. It's time for a solution. Kwanele. Dit is genoeg. Ho lekane. It's enough.
