Another Taxi War Ignites in Alexandra, South Africa

Johannesburg's Sandton Taxi Association (Armsta) and the Alexandra Taxi Association (ATA) are reeling after the assassination of a sixth taxi owner in just five months, with three assassinations occurring in just five days most recently. Despite the targeted killings, the ATA denies the claim that a taxi war is raging in the township.According to an anonymous source speaking to local Scrolla Africa journalists, many members of the association's top leadership are refraining from reporting to their offices for fear of being followed.The spokesperson for Armsta, Tladi Lephonisa, claimed that it is unclear what or who is fueling the killings."We don't know why there are these killings. All these shootings and killings are related, but... there is no war between taxi operators," said Lephonisa..What You Need to KnowTaxi violence is not new to South Africa, with drivers committing arson against other modes of public transportation, such as passenger trains and city buses. Additionally, inter-taxi violence, or "taxi wars," between the operators of different taxi businesses is on the rise, with 150 incidents of shootings, stonings, and other acts of violence and intimidation occurring between early January 2021 and early February 2022.Taxi wars, the result of the struggle for lucrative taxi routes between owners, are a semi-regular occurrence in the nation, with much of the worst violence taking place in the province of KwaZulu-Natal. However, the spread of this violence to Johannesburg and its surroundings is not unusual. The poorer township of Alexandra lies adjacent to Sandton, a vastly wealthy Johannesburg suburb, with taxi routes and their many passengers competed for by taxi owners.The assassinations began on May 2, with the killing of a taxi owner at Alexandra's Pan Africa Mall. Waiting for passengers to ferry from Alexandra to Sandton, the man was shot six times and had been a member of Armsta for 20 years.On August 20, two taxi owners were fired upon by several individuals from a moving vehicle while being escorted by security officers after returning from an association meeting. Bystanders sustained injuries, but no fatalities were recorded.Just after this incident, an ATA member was shot and killed at a taxi rank near Balfour Park Mall in Highlands North, Johannesburg.On August 28, another ATA taxi owner was shot and killed in Hillbrow, Johannesburg.On September 20, two ATA members were shot, one fatally, at the Pan Africa Mall. Four days later, another taxi owner was killed in the Tsutsumani section of Alexandra township.The most recent killing, on Wednesday, September 25, was that of a 45-year-old Armsta member. Shot by two men while out buying food, the assailants then stole the victim's firearm before fleeing the scene.So, What Now?It is clear that taxi operators in Alexandra and Sandton are under siege, but by whom is up for debate. Taxi wars have plagued South African citizens for years, with many innocent civilians caught in the crossfire of these turf wars.Exacerbating the issue are the measures the drivers take to defend themselves. Oftentimes carrying their own weapons, shootouts occur with relative frequency, plunging the drivers and passengers of many of the most populated taxi routes into a state of paranoia.