Marsha Dean|Published
Two taxi owners were shot dead in Epping after gunmen opened fire on their vehicle, with police arresting two suspects who are expected to appear in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
The men, aged 45 and 46, were travelling along Fisher Avenue on Friday, October 16, when a Toyota Quantum allegedly blocked their sedan and seven men opened fire, according to the South African Police Service (SAPS).
The Provincial Taxi Violence Unit arrested two suspects, aged 27 and 31, who have links to the taxi industry. They face two counts of murder, with police expecting further arrests as investigations continue.
The shooting has raised fears of further violence between taxi associations, with the Cape Organisation for the Democratic Taxi Association (Codeta) saying the victims were its members.
Two suspects arrested after Epping shooting
Western Cape police spokesperson Brigadier Novela Potelwa said the suspects were expected to appear in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court on Monday, October 19.
“In targeted efforts to deal with taxi-related violence that rears its ugly head from time to time in the Western Cape, two suspects are expected to appear in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 19 October 2026, following their arrest in connection with the murder of two taxi owners on Friday in Epping,” Potelwa said.
She said patrol members from a taxi association had been travelling in a sedan along Fisher Avenue when a Toyota Quantum attempted to block their vehicle.
“Seven men from the taxi alighted and fired several shots at the other vehicle. Two men aged 45 and 46 were killed during the shooting. Several spent cartridges were found on the scene,” she said.
Potelwa confirmed that follow-up investigations by the Provincial Taxi Violence Unit had led to the arrest of two suspects with links to the taxi industry.
“As investigations into the shooting incident continue, more arrests are expected in due course,” she said.
SAPS management in the Western Cape commended the detectives involved in the arrests and reiterated that violence would be dealt with decisively.
Codeta fears escalation into taxi war
Nceba Enge of Codeta said the victims were taxi owners belonging to the association.
According to Enge, the shooting followed a dispute after a Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association (Cata) vehicle was fined R150 by Codeta members for loading passengers in the wrong place.
“Members from the Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association (Cata) just decided to load from Epping to Delft. This was tried to be stopped by our members. A few days ago, it was said that Cata vehicles were taken by our members and the fine was R150. This happens when you are loading in the wrong place; then you will be fined R150,” Enge said.
He said a call had been received demanding that the R150 be returned to Cata, warning of unspecified consequences if it was not.
“A call was received that the R150 should go back to Cata, or else we will face other circumstances. We did not know if he was referring to this shooting; I don’t know. Thankfully, none of the commuters were shot or injured,” he said.
Enge said the association was concerned about the possibility of further violence.
“We are scared that this can transpire into a taxi war because we do not know what can happen.”
Attempts to reach Cata for comment were unsuccessful.