Michael Sakuneka

Michael Sakuneka

A Limpopo taxi owner was shot deadin Groblersdal on Friday night as taxi violence continued to rear its ugly head.

The taxi owner was transporting passengers from Legolaneng to Groblersdal when he was attacked.

This brings to four the number of people killed in taxirelated violence since the beginning of the year.

Inspector Abel Magolego said the deceased had been identified as Abel Mogola, 35, of Tafelkop, Groblersdal.

He said Mogola was driving when a passenger shot him twice in the head and in the stomach. He was killed instantly.

Magolego said the killing might be related to the taxi violence that has been rife in Groblersdal over the past few months.

According to Magolego the assailant jumped into a Toyota Cressida that had been following the taxi.

"This kind of incident is disturbing because taxis are supposed to be user-friendly for passengers," Magolego said.

The incident happened two days after transport and public works MEC Justice Pitso met with representatives of taxi associations in the area to try and find a solution to the violence.

Pitso condemned the incident and stressed that the government would work hard to ensure that individuals involved in taxi killings were severely punished.

He also said his department would join hands with law enforcement agencies to ensure that peace prevailed in the Groblersdal taxi industry.

Meanwhile, police reported yesterday that two suspects had been arrested for questioning in connection with the incident.