A teenager and four taxi drivers fell victim to escalating violence in Vrygrond and Overcome Heights on Saturday, an area marred by ongoing gang and taxi-related conflicts. A four-year-old child was also injured in the crossfire, intensifying concerns within the community.
According to Ward Councillor Mandy Marr, the violence appears to have been sparked by a shooting incident on Sunday, 24 November, in Westlake. Marr alleged that during a confrontation, a member of the Junky Funky Kids gang from Vrygrond was shot and killed by a member of the Vrygrond Taxi Association, leaving a taxi driver injured.
By Saturday, the violence escalated tragically. Marr detailed the sequence of fatal shootings:
“On Saturday, four people were shot and killed – a taxi driver, Warren, was shot in Drury Road, Vrygrond; another Retreat taxi driver was shot and killed in his taxi on the corner of Prince George Drive and Military Road; a 16-year-old boy was shot and killed at the Vrygrond Taxi Rank in Jeppie Road, Vrygrond; and a Retreat taxi driver was shot and killed in Overcome Heights.”
The young child who was shot was rushed to False Bay Hospital for treatment.
Marr described the situation as perplexing, with no clear understanding of why two taxi associations appear to be involved in the conflict.
“It’s all basically like drive-by shootings, so no arrests have been made. And of course people are too scared to lay charges, even if they do see anything,” she explained.
The violence has not only resulted in lives lost but has also left the community in a state of fear. Marr stated that taxi bosses were seeking a meeting with gang leaders to address the issue.
Police spokesperson Warrant Officer Joseph Swartbooi confirmed two of the murders and stated that no arrests had been made. He noted that police found the body of the 16-year-old boy in Jappie Road around 4:40 pm on Saturday, with the motive still under investigation.
In another incident the same day, officers responding to gunfire in Rasta Road, Overcome Heights, discovered the body of a 35-year-old man. Swartbooi indicated that this attack appeared to be linked to taxi-related violence.
On Sunday, more shootings were reported at the Vrygrond Taxi Rank and Philemon Road, Vrygrond. Community sources suggest three additional men were killed, though police had yet to confirm these reports by Sunday night.
The violence has left residents feeling trapped and fearful. Vrygrond community leader Mymoena Scholtz called for a stronger police presence and intervention from the Minister of Police.
“People are working and they’re fearing coming home. There’s already so much poverty and if people just stay absent, they might lose their jobs. So it’s totally unfair that a handful of criminals are holding the community hostage,” Scholtz said.
CODETA Vrygrond chairperson Makhosandile Tumana expressed confusion about the origins of the violence, particularly why the Junky Funky Kids gang was allegedly targeting taxi drivers near the ranks.
“My driver is still suffering in hospital, the one that was shot on Sunday morning [24 Nov]… It was between us and Junky Funky’s, they were beating us left and right but today (Sunday), I hear the story that there are two guys that got shot as well and the other driver was shot in Overcome on Sunday,” Tumana explained.
He also mentioned the uncertainty surrounding the incident involving a CATA Constantia driver, suggesting that the motives behind the attacks remain unclear.
