Tragedy at Parkgate Taxi Rank: Taxi Boss and Local Food Vendor Shot Dead

VERULAM, KWAZULU-NATAL — Panic and grief gripped the Parkgate community in Verulam on Tuesday morning, October 13, 2026 after a brutal drive-by shooting at the local taxi rank left two men dead—a prominent local taxi boss and a food stall owner—and a second taxi operator injured.

The incident unfolded unexpectedly during morning hours when commuters and stallholders were gathering at the busy transport hub. According to eyewitnesses and preliminary reports from Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA), an unknown grey vehicle drove up to an informal food stall at the rank where a group of men were standing. Without warning, unidentified assailants opened fire on the group and fled the scene at high speed.

Members of RUSA responded to the scene following frantic calls reporting multiple gunshots. Upon arrival, officers discovered two men who had succumbed to fatal gunshot wounds near the informal stall. A third man, identified as another taxi operator, sustained gunshot injuries and was attended to by medical personnel.

The victims killed in the attack were confirmed to be a local taxi operator (taxi boss) and a well-known food vendor operating the stall.

The sudden attack sent shockwaves through the Parkgate and Verulam communities, where small business owners and commuters regularly interact at the rank.

"A survivor told officers that an unknown grey vehicle pulled up and its occupants opened fire on the group," RUSA spokesperson Prem Balram noted.

Law enforcement agencies and South African Police Service (SAPS) investigators cordoned off the area to collect evidence and interview eyewitnesses. At the time of reporting, no arrests have been made, and authorities have not formally established a motive, though investigations into the attack remain active and ongoing.

In the wake of the violent strike, local leaders and community members expressed heightened concerns over safety and potential escalations surrounding taxi industry tensions in the region. Residents have appealed for an increased police presence and swift accountability, warning that unchecked violence directly threatens the livelihoods of ordinary citizens and vendors who rely on local transport hubs each day.