In brief
South Africa’s Parliament denounced a spate of taxi‑related shootings in Cape Town that killed five men and wounded four, which halted operations at the Cape Town International Airport and threatened the upcoming local elections. Officials urged national bodies to act quickly and called on police to restore calm. A court granted an interim interdict against two parties amid the unrest.
On Saturday October 31, South Africa’s Parliament condemned a wave of violence that erupted in Cape Town’s minibus‑taxi sector, amid reports of five men killed and four wounded in separate shootings that railed against the city’s airport and threatened the local elections slated for the following week.
The condemnation was issued in a formal statement that called on national bodies within the taxi industry to step in swiftly and on law enforcement to maintain visibility until calm was restored. The parliament’s irritation was highlighted by Donald Selamolela, chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Transport, who said the violence threatened the nation’s confidence in public transport.
Donald Selamolela
"This is a sad development in our country. The last thing we need is this bout of sporadic shootings that seem to be indiscriminate. We condemn the criminality and violence that accompanies this outbreak and we call on law enforcement to ensure and maintain visibility until calm has been restored," Selamolela said.
The severe incidents took place on Thursday morning, with three separate shootings across the city. A fatal incident occurred at the Delft taxi rank, while other attacks occurred in the Cape Flats towns of Gugulethu, Khayelitsha, Epping and Bonteheuwel. Local media confirmed that five men were killed and four others wounded, sparking widespread concern for the safety of taxi operators and drivers.
Amid these disturbances, the Cape Town International Airport experienced significant disruptions. Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) issued a statement on Friday reporting staff shortages due to the unrest. The company logged 60 flight delays as of 13:00, comprising 44 domestic departures, 11 international departures and five arrivals, with an average delay of about 60 minutes and no cancellations.
A separate development arose from the Western Cape High Court, which granted an interim interdict against two parties, adding a legal dimension to the unfolding crisis. The court’s decision aimed to contain further escalation while authorities demanded a coordinated response from transport and security agencies.
Officials stressed that the violence could potentially undermine the upcoming local elections, emphasizing that citizens’ democratic choices should not be compromised by sporadic shootings or taxi‑industry disputes. The Parliament’s warning came as a reminder that more concerted national intervention was required to curb the increasing violence that had escalated in recent weeks.
In sum, the parliament’s statement, the kills and injuries, the airport delays, and the court intervention together paint a picture of a city in turmoil at a critical political moment, demanding swift action by transport authorities and law‑enforcement agencies to re‑establish public order and protect the electoral process.
