Cape Town tightens taxi rank security after fatal shootings
SAPS together with the City of Cape Town law enforcement assessed the effectiveness of operations
Cape Town is tightening security measures at taxi ranks following a surge in taxi-related shootings, according to police. Police spokesperson Novela Potelwa stated that numerous taxis have been impounded since Friday night as part of the intensified security efforts. The SAPS leadership in the Western Cape, along with the City of Cape Town's law enforcement agencies, conducted an assessment of their operational responses to the recent incidents of taxi violence.
This assessment took place at the municipality's joint public safety operational centre in Parow, where live video feeds from crime hotspots are monitored for rapid response. The joint security management core, comprising the Western Cape SAPS and the City of Cape Town's law enforcement, met on Friday morning for the assessment exercise.
The meeting allowed them to view live visuals from targeted hotspots transmitted through the city's extensive camera network. On Friday night, three suspects were arrested and four firearms were seized by members of the Mfuleni SAPS crime prevention unit, who were deployed in response to attacks on taxi operators in residential areas.
The attacks occurred after a taxi driver, accompanied by a female passenger, was shot at and killed, while the woman sustained injuries and was taken to a medical facility for treatment. The ongoing taxi violence has also caused delays at the Cape Town International Airport.
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