THE gunning down of two taxi operators has sparked fears of a bloodbath in KwaZulu-Natal.

The attack has prompted the KZN Transport Alliance to call for police intelligence to step in and investigate the shootings.

The call comes after a Port Shepstone taxi owner was killed in a hail of bullets yesterday morning.

Sfundo Mzindle was attacked by a group of people armed with pangas and sticks.

Police spokesperson Captain Thulane Zwane said: "They smashed his taxi before shooting him and he died on the scene. Twelve people have been taken in for questioning."

Mzindle's killing comes less than a month after four taxis were stoned in what police believed was an attack linked to a route dispute between the Bambanani and Gamalakhe Taxi associations.

In another incident Bhamshela Taxi Association chairperson Simon Mkhwanazi died in Appelsbosch Hospital after being attacked at the area's taxi rank on Wednesday.

Zwane said Mkhwanazi was in his taxi when gunmen in a Mazda pulled up alongside and appro-ached him.

"They just opened fire and fled."