R300 temporarily closed after suspected taxi-related shooting - IOL

The taxi violence in Cape Town continues, with the R300 highway now being temporarily closed on Thursday. 

The announcement was made by the City of Cape Town’s Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith, just before 9am. 

“There has been a shooting incident on the R300 that is believed to be taxi-related. Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and City enforcement are on site with a temporary closure on the R300. SAPS and City enforcement are working to get the road open as quickly as possible. Our enforcement services remain on high alert, ready to assist the SAPS where needed. We have also ramped up patrols around public transport interchanges,” he said. 

Law enforcement authorities on the scene along the R300.

Smith said they were aware of continued misinformation and fake news doing the rounds, pertaining to tensions in the public transport sector, including reports of a strike.

Earlier this week, three people were killed in separate shootings across Cape Town amid suspected taxi-related violence, while commuters were seen fleeing for their lives as gunfire rang out in Delft. 

Shooting incidents have spilled over into several areas across Cape Town and are alleged to be linked to taxi disputes.

Several videos of the shooting incidents from different angles have since gone viral on social media platforms. 

In one video, different calibres of firearms can be heard being fired, one sounding like a machine gun. People can be seen scattering in different directions from gunfire.