---
title: "11 minibus taxi drivers shot dead in ambush: police"
description: "Eleven South African minibus taxi drivers were shot dead and four injured when unknown gunmen opened fire on their vehicle in KwaZulu Natal province, police said Sunday."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "Newsdeck"
author: "AFP"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/afp/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2018-07-22-11-minibus-taxi-drivers-shot-dead-in-ambush-police/"
published: "2018-07-22T21:59:53"
updated: "2018-07-23T05:03:46"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 103
---

# 11 minibus taxi drivers shot dead in ambush: police

> Eleven South African minibus taxi drivers were shot dead and four injured when unknown gunmen opened fire on their vehicle in KwaZulu Natal province, police said Sunday.

By AFP · Published 22 July 2018, 23:59 SAST · Updated 23 July 2018, 07:03 SAST

## Content

National commissioner of police Khehla Sitole said the men were travelling back to Johannesburg from a colleague's funeral on Saturday night when they were ambushed.

"Preliminary reports indicate that that the 11 were among 17 people coming from a funeral... Four victims were critically injured and taken to hospital while two survived unscathed," he said.

Police launched a manhunt to find those responsible.

"We will await for the investigation to advance before speculating on a motive," said Sitole.

Private minibuses provide essential transport for millions of South Africans, but violence is common between rival taxi groups as profitable routes are hotly contested. **DM**