Murder knows no end. On Dr Yusuf Dadoo Street, a man was gunned down in the Central Business District (CBD) this afternoon (19 of February 2026, at the time of writing). The bustling CBD was brought to a standstill by the incident. Ensure Security stated that the victim was shot at about 16:00 on the street mentioned above. Chills reverberated across the CBD.
He said on arrival at the scene, officers found a male believed to be about 35 years old lying supine on the roadway with multiple gunshot wounds. “He displayed no signs of life and was declared deceased on scene,” said Van Reenen. “The circumstances surrounding the incident and the events leading up to it remain unclear and will form the subject of a South African Police Service investigation.” The police had yet to comment at the time of publishing.
The incident on the former Grey Street is a gruesome scene that will reverberate across the area. As the investigation commences, the perpetrator or perpetrators responsible will be found. The fact that violence such as this can occur in the locality shows that South Africans must be wary of crime. Violent acts, such as this murder in broad daylight, suggest the involvement of organized crime. The motive has yet to be determined; however, it indicates that those with criminal intent are becoming increasingly emboldened.
In other local crime news, an e-hailing driver was assaulted and extorted. Again, the motive remains unclear.
DURBAN – A Bolt driver was assaulted and allegedly extorted in Durban. Sphelele Gumede says three men attacked him outside Phoenix Plaza. He claims he was then held hostage at a local taxi association office, where R5,000 was demanded for the return of his vehicle. Gumede says he had just dropped off a client when three men entered his car and began assaulting him. He alleges they told him he was not allowed to operate at the plaza and ordered him to drive to the taxi association’s offices. There, his car was impounded and he was instructed to pay R5,000. Gumede says he sustained serious injuries during the assault and is struggling to move his neck.
The extract above clearly exposes the operation of a taxi gang. The assault on this driver was evidently a mafia-style incident. The question arises as to whether the police are equipped to deal with such cases. Organized crime can be a gross abuse of power, as illustrated above, or a usurpation of authority to commit wrongdoing within a certain territory. Gumede was the victim of an abuse of power by a taxi rank gang. These forms of crime are unacceptable and cannot be allowed to take root. An investigation will be launched into the matter, but the police should be given greater authority to arrest the three individuals responsible for the assault. No stone can be left unturned.
This is a new year and the beginning of a new era. Crime must be tackled, whether murder or assault.
Article written by:
Yacoob Cassim
Journalist at Radio Al Ansaar
