A mass shooting in Nyanga on Tuesday morning has left four men dead and two others fighting for their lives in hospital, in what police suspect may be the latest incident linked to ongoing taxi violence in the Western Cape.

According to the Western Cape South African Police Service (SAPS), the shooting occurred at around 08:30 at the corner of Moonwood Drive and Sheffield Road in Nyanga.

Police said unknown gunmen opened fire on a group of men before fleeing the scene.

Emergency services rushed to the area, but four victims were declared dead at the scene. Two other men sustained serious gunshot wounds and were transported to the hospital, where they remain in critical condition.

The identities of the victims have not yet been released pending notification of their families.

Western Cape police have launched a murder and attempted murder investigation and are pursuing several leads. While the motive has not yet been confirmed, SAPS said early indications suggest the attack may be linked to taxi industry rivalries.

No arrests had been made at the time of publication.

The latest bloodshed comes amid renewed concerns about escalating taxi violence in parts of Cape Town, particularly on the Cape Flats, where disputes over routes, operating permits and internal association conflicts have repeatedly turned deadly.

Nyanga has long been identified as one of the province’s taxi violence hotspots. Earlier this year, Western Cape Mobility MEC Isaac Sileku called for urgent police intervention in Nyanga following a series of attacks linked to taxi industry disputes. Taxi operators also marched to the Nyanga police station, demanding stronger action against ongoing violence and calling for surveillance cameras to be installed at taxi ranks.

The area around Moonwood Drive and Sheffield Road has featured in previous incidents linked to taxi conflict. Reports over recent years have identified Nyanga, Delft, Philippi, Crossroads and surrounding communities as flashpoints in the deadly struggle for control of lucrative transport routes.

The shooting also follows a string of deadly attacks across the Western Cape taxi industry in recent months.

In March, three taxi operators were shot and killed at the Delft taxi rank in a suspected taxi-related attack. The killings occurred just days after operators had raised concerns about escalating violence in the sector.

During the same month, two additional fatal shootings linked to taxi disputes were reported in Delft, prompting condemnation from the South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO), which warned that violence could not be allowed to define the industry.

The Western Cape has experienced recurring outbreaks of taxi violence for decades, with disputes often centred on competition for profitable routes, operating licences and control of taxi associations. While authorities have periodically increased police deployments and mediation efforts, the killings have continued to claim lives.

Industry leaders have repeatedly warned that the violence not only affects taxi operators but also places commuters and innocent bystanders at risk.

Tuesday’s shooting once again highlights the deadly consequences of unresolved conflicts within the public transport sector.

As forensic teams combed the crime scene in Nyanga, shocked residents gathered behind police cordons while investigators collected evidence.

Police have appealed to anyone who may have witnessed the shooting or who has information that could assist the investigation to come forward.

The motive behind the attack remains under investigation, and authorities have cautioned against speculation while detectives work to establish exactly what happened.

For now, Nyanga joins a growing list of communities scarred by taxi-related bloodshed, with four more lives lost and two men clinging to life in the hospital as the cycle of violence continues.

Police are expected to provide further updates as the investigation unfolds.