According to South African police, four people were killed by armed attackers at a taxi rank in central Johannesburg on Thursday.
Three people were killed in a similar shooting that took place the day before near the city.
The shootings are thought to be related to ongoing rivalries between taxi associations, which are a violent part of South Africa’s lucrative and competitive minibus taxi industry.
For most South Africans, minibus taxis are their main form of transportation.
Early on Thursday, police spokesman Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi told AFP that armed men in a vehicle approached a taxi stand in Johannesburg’s Jeppestown area and opened fire.
Two hawkers, a taxi driver, and someone in charge of the taxi lines were among the victims.
The attack also injured three other people: a passenger, a taxi driver, and a university student.
Nevhuhulwi went on to say that there is a suspicion that the shooting is connected to violence in taxis.
Three taxi drivers were shot and killed at a rank in Katlehong, southeast of Johannesburg, the day before in a similar incident. The attack also injured two passengers.
According to police reports, a group of people showed up at the scene and started shooting randomly.
According to police statistics, South Africa has one of the highest murder rates in the world, with about 75 killings taking place every day.
These statistics do not, however, specifically classify deaths associated with the protracted taxi wars.
