Three die in Mthatha drive-by shooting

Three people were shot dead and 15 others critically injured during the drive-by-shooting in Mthatha last night(Thursday).

The incident took place in the taxi rank located at Circus Triangle Mall which is located on the R61 towards Port St John’s.

Police said that this was part of the ongoing taxi—violence between Mthatha and Libode in the past few weeks.

According to Mthatha police spokesman Mzukisi Fatyela those who were injured were rushed to hospital and some are in a critical condition.

“...there was minibus taxi that randomly opened fire and killed three people instantly.”

Fatyela said all three deceased people had nothing to do with taxi industry.

He added that police were not yet sure as to how many out of the 15 injured people were involved in the taxi industry.

“The kombi was driving from town towards the direction of Libode,” said Fatyela.

He said that a number of empty cartridges, a high calibre firearm – either R5 or R4 rilfle- were found in the scene of shooting.

The place where the shooting happened was the same spot where a taxi operator was shot dead in another drive-by-shooting last month.

Fatyela said that there had been a number of shootings near Corhana and Ntlaza near Libode.

“We have deployed police on that the route. No arrest has been made so far,” said Fatyela.

The ongoing taxi violence is between Uncedo Service Taxi Association, Mthatha Taxi Owners Association as well as Libode Taxi Owners Association.

Commuters were left stranded and other fearing to come near taxis – lulamilef@dispatch.co.za