KWAZULU-NATAL safety MEC Willies Mchunu yesterday condemned the killing of a Hammarsdale taxi operator outside Pinetown.

"Mchunu condemns the shooting and killing of Mpumalanga taxi operator Mhlonishwa Ngubane," department spokesperson Kwanele Ncalane said.

Ngubane and two other men were travelling in a private car when they were attacked on Wednesday.

"Ngubane and one of the men were killed on the scene and the third sustained gunshot wounds and was taken to the nearest clinic," Ncalane said.

The attack took place at a time when the department was engaged in talks with taxi operators in the area about illegal operators, he said.

The court had ordered Mchunu to appoint an arbitrator in the matter.

The arbitrator would make a decision today and this would be taken to court.