South African Taxi Owner Shot Dead During Haircut

Tragic Shooting: Taxi Owner Killed While Getting Haircut

​On April 8, 2025, a taxi owner was tragically shot dead while receiving a haircut at a barbershop in Diepkloof, Soweto. Three armed men entered the salon, opened fire on the victim, and, upon detecting a pulse, shot him three more times. The assailants then pointed a firearm at the barber before fleeing the scene.

This incident is believed to be linked to ongoing conflicts between rival taxi associations over control of routes in Soweto. Just a day prior, three taxi marshals affiliated with the Witwatersrand African Taxi Association were ambushed and killed in Mofolo Central, Soweto.

Such events highlight the deep-seated tensions and violence within South Africa’s taxi industry, with disputes over route control often leading to tragic outcomes