News24 | UPDATE | Gunmen kill Joburg taxi association boss Molefe Moekeletsi

Alexandra Randburg Midrand Taxi Association chairperson Molefe Moekeletsi was gunned down on Thursday.

The chairperson of the Alexandra Randburg Midrand Taxi Association (Armta), Molefe Moekeletsi, was gunned down in Marlboro Gardens, Johannesburg, on Thursday.

National Taxi Association (NTA) spokesperson Theo Malele said Moekeletsi was shot dead at Armta’s offices.

“All that we know is that he has been shot dead and some of his security guards have also been hospitalised.

“As the NTA, we are shocked that in such [a short] space of time, another one of us has been gunned down,” Malele said.

Police spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi said Moekeletsi was killed on 8th Street in Marlboro after unknown gunmen, driving a white BMW X5, launched an attack on two vehicles – an Audi and a Mahindra bakkie – that were travelling together.

“The driver of the Audi and one passenger from the Mahindra bakkie were declared dead on the scene,” Nevhuhulwi said, while police later added that four more occupants of the bakkie sustained gunshot wounds and were taken to hospital.

READ | Western Cape lifts taxi route closures after weeks of deadly violence

“It is further reported that two civilians sustained injuries as their vehicle crashed into the Audi when the driver lost control,” Nevhuhulwi said.

She said that police later discovered the suspects’ vehicle abandoned a few kilometres away from the scene.

“The suspects are unknown at this stage, and the motive is currently suspected to be taxi-violence related, as one of the victims has been reported to be a member of a local taxi association of Alexandra,” she said.

Gauteng police are investigating murder and attempted murder cases.