An eyewitness to last week’s taxi violence in Hout Bay has described the terrifying scenes that unfolded.
Taxi driver Phindile Parafien, 43, was shot in the head near the Imizamo Yethu traffic circle at 5.15pm on Friday.
Sources told the Sentinel Mr Parafien was from Khayelitsha.
According to Hout Bay police spokeswoman, Warrant Officer Tanya Lesch, he was rushed to Groote Schuur Hospital where he later died.
One suspect has been arrested for the murder.
The eyewitness, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal from taxi bosses, said he had gone to buy a loaf of bread at a nearby shop when he heard “a loud cracker sound”.
“I turned and saw there were people flocking out at speed
from a Quantum (minibus). I immediately thought something was wrong in the taxi,” the man said.
“The traders on the other side of the road were also running for their lives and screaming. Another taxi then pulled up behind the first taxi, and people also left that as soon as possible.”
The eyewitness said he had then noticed that only the driver remained in the first taxi.
“His head was bowed, and his body was hanging against the window.”
Another navy blue taxi had been turning around.
“That taxi started speeding into oncoming traffic. It was speeding right through the crowd and up into Mandela Road. It looked like it was fleeing the scene.
“I don’t know whether that taxi was carrying the shooter or whether the driver had done the shooting.”
He said it was clear the police had been alerted quickly because one of their vehicles had sped off in the direction of the blue taxi’s flight soon afterwards.
