In brief
On Thursday morning in Cape Town, a series of minibus taxi shootings claimed five lives and wounded four others, exposing a growing wave of violence that has disrupted airport operations. Parliament’s statement condemned the criminality, urged national bodies to act quickly, and called for police visibility until calm returns. Legal measures and airport delays highlight the escalating tension in the region.
Cape Town’s minibus taxi sector was rattled on Thursday morning when a chain of shootings claimed five driver lives and left four wounded, striking the heart of the city’s transport community. The violence erupted across three separate locations, including a taxi rank in Delft, prompting an immediate response from lawmakers and the public.
In a statement issued Saturday, South Africa’s Parliament sharply condemned the incidents, describing them as an “unacceptable outbreak of sporadic shootings that seem to be indiscriminate.” Parliament’s Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Transport, Donald Selamolela, added that the violence came at a time when the government is concentrating on support and investment in public transportation.
"We send our deepest condolences to the families of those who have lost their lives and wish speedy recovery to all those affected," the statement said. "This is a sad development in our country."
Selamolela stressed that “the violence should not threaten the people’s expression of their wishes in the local elections scheduled for the following week.” He called on law‑enforcement agencies to maintain visibility until calm is restored and urged national bodies in the taxi industry to intervene rapidly.
Three separate shootings across Cape Town on Thursday took the lives of five men, while four others sustained injuries. Local media reported one incident at the Delft taxi rank and highlighted that the unrest is part of a broader wave of taxi‑related violence affecting the Cape Flats region, including areas such as Gugulethu, Khayelitsha, Epping, and Bonteheuwel.
The violence had an immediate ripple effect on transportation beyond the city. Cape Town International Airport experienced a surge in disruption on Friday, with staffing levels across operations hit by ongoing unrest. A statement from Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) recorded a total of 60 flight delays by 13:00 on Friday.
Out of the 60 delays, 44 were domestic departures, 11 were international departures, and five were arrivals. “The average delay was approximately 60 minutes, with no cancellations reported,” ACSA said, noting that the delays reflected staff shortages rather than mechanical or airline issues.
Amid the turmoil, the Western Cape High Court took a step to address the crisis, granting an interim interdict against two parties involved in the ongoing unrest. Although the legal document does not fully detail the court’s order, it signals a judicial attempt to curb the violence as the region faces a tight election cycle.
Local authorities and community leaders have called for calm and de‑escalation, urging taxi operators and drivers to avoid confrontations that might attract further criminal attention. The Parliament’s call for peace, combined with a request for law‑enforcement presence, underscores a growing demand for stronger intervention at both the national and local levels.
With local elections looming a week from the shootings, the incident has intensified concerns that the lack of order in the city may impact citizens’ ability to exercise their right to vote. The Parliament’s condemnation and the swift response from airport officials and the court highlight the seriousness of the situation and the urgent need for coherent, coordinated action to restore safety for Cape Town’s residents and visitors alike.
