The incident happened just before noon, 1km from the Thembalethu off-ramp near the Garden Route Mall - a mere 300m from the spot where the late taxi owner Tom Queba was shot and killed in May.
According to Captain Malcolm Pojie, Southern Cape Police spokesperson, the shooting occurred when a group of people confronted the officer while he was hitchhiking on the N2.
"The officer told the police that the men attempted to rob him and that he shot in response to the threat and acted in self-defence."
At the time of going to press, the identity of the deceased had not been released, but Pojie confirmed that the victim was a male from Thembalethu. The case will be further investigated by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate, said Pojie.
Information shared on the scene indicates that a car stopped next to the accused, intending to give him a lift, after which a taxi driver happened on the scene and an altercation followed. The source said that it seemed as if the taxi driver resented the fact that the hitchhiker was getting a lift and was not making use of the taxi service.
About a month ago the George Herald reported that people getting lifts on the N2 were being intimidated by certain taxi drivers who demanded that they use paid transport. The George Municipality also sent a letter to UNCEDO, the local taxi association, asking them to urgently address the situation and take up the matter with their members.
On the scene the George Herald saw a large group of people standing together who identified themselves as taxi owners. They declined to comment on the incident, but confirmed that there was no animosity within the taxi fraternity.
Metro Emergency Services as well as ER24 were on the scene. According to a paramedic, the victim was found lying on his stomach. "It looked as if he had three bullet wounds, but only one empty bullet shell was found on the scene, about 2m from the body," said the paramedic. "This made people believe that he was shot at close range."
The police confirmed that the shooting is an isolated incident and in no way related to the GO GEORGE transport network planned for George. A murder docket has been opened at Conville Police Station.
The George Herald has requested comment from the George Municipality and will post their statement and more details here on our website as it becomes available.
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This group of onlookers identified themselves as taxi owners. They congregated on the other side of the N2 highway. Photo: Michelle Pienaar
The cross shows where the late taxi owner Tom Queba was shot and killed in May. The latest shooting happened a mere 300m from there.
ARTICLE: MICHELLE PIENAAR, GEORGE HERALD JOURNALIST
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