Four Killed and Three Injured in Johannesburg Taxi Rank Shooting

A tragic shooting incident at a taxi rank in Doornfontein, near Jeppe in Johannesburg’s CBD, left four people dead and three injured on the morning of Thursday, 20 March 2025. The incident, believed to be connected to ongoing taxi violence in the area, has once again brought attention to the deadly disputes within the taxi industry.

According to reports, a group of heavily armed men stormed the taxi rank and opened fire indiscriminately on those present. Among the deceased, two victims were innocent bystanders, while the other two were identified as members of the local taxi association, either drivers or managers operating at the rank. Tragically, a university student waiting for a bus was also caught in the crossfire and injured.

Gauteng Police Commissioner, Lieutenant-General Tommy Mthombeni, confirmed the shooting and the fatalities during a media briefing. “We can confirm four deaths. Two were innocent bystanders, and two others were directly linked to the taxi association. Three victims were transported to the hospital, one of whom is in critical condition,” he stated.

Mthombeni also emphasized the persistent nature of taxi-related violence in the province. “According to the Commission of Inquiry into Taxi Violence, we have established the Taxi Violence Unit, which is currently operational. We also rely on conflict resolutions facilitated by the Department of Roads and Transport. These killings are often driven by disputes over routes, an issue we need to tackle urgently,” he added.

The area where the shooting occurred falls under the Jeppe policing precinct, which is known to be associated with the long-distance taxi association from Jeppe. Authorities believe that ongoing rivalry and route disputes between different taxi associations could have sparked the violence.

In a disturbing development, this shooting follows a similar violent incident that occurred just a day earlier at Zonkizizwe Taxi Rank on Wednesday, 19 March. In that case, assailants driving a white BMW opened fire randomly at the taxi rank. The attack left three taxi drivers dead and two passengers injured, both of whom were rushed to the hospital for treatment.

Gauteng Police spokesperson, Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi, confirmed that the police have opened cases of murder and attempted murder in both incidents. “At Zonkizizwe, we are investigating three counts of murder and two counts of attempted murder. No arrests have been made in either case,” she said.

Both shootings have raised serious concerns about the escalating taxi violence in the region, which continues to claim innocent lives. Authorities are currently investigating the incidents and have vowed to bring those responsible to justice.

The Provincial Taxi Violence Unit is leading the investigation into these shootings, while police continue to appeal to the public for any information that could assist in apprehending the perpetrators. As tensions rise within the taxi industry, the government and law enforcement agencies are under increasing pressure to find lasting solutions to the violent disputes plaguing the sector.