Two Cape Town killer shootouts between cops and extortion suspects expose possible taxi industry links

Three suspects were killed and four others injured in a gunfight with the police in Bothasig, Cape Town, on Wednesday during a high-speed chase. 

Western Cape police spokesperson Colonel Andrè Traut said the Provincial Operational Command Centre’s Combat Team received intelligence that seven suspects were fleeing in a minibus taxi after demanding protection money from business owners in Dunoon. 

“During a pursuit in Bosmansdam Road, the suspects opened fire at two police vehicles with an assault rifle. Police retaliated and managed to bring the vehicle to a halt on the corners of Bosmansdam and Wylands roads. The assault rifle, a 9mm pistol, an undisclosed amount of cash, as well as the minibus taxi were confiscated.” 

The surviving suspects were treated for gunshot wounds and placed under police guard.

It was the second recent incident in which suspected extortionists in a minibus taxi were involved in a shootout with police. Last month, a similar encounter in Milnerton resulted in four suspected extortionists being shot dead and four others injured.

The Milnerton group was allegedly en route to commit a mass shooting, with police recovering five firearms at the scene. The fact that minibus taxis were used in both incidents has fuelled speculation that taxi operators or owners may be involved in extortion.

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