A taxi driver has been shot and killed as he was walking into his Nyanga home, leaving behind 7-months old baby.

Thandekile Mtywazo, 35, had just got home from soccer practice when he was gunned down on Wednesday night.

The father of two, who is a taxi owner, was speaking to his neighbour when he was shot more than 10 times by three unknown attackers.

A family friend, who asked not to be named, says: “He would normally make sure that everyone hears when he is around and he did the same thing that night.

“He was speaking to his friend and shouting and still laughing. And while he was busy talking three men appeared and shot him several times.”

The vrou says she lost count after 10 shots went off.

“There were too many shots and when the suspects stopped shooting people went outside and he was laying on the ground with blood streaming down the road. The gunmen were wearing masks, so no one knows how they look. Earlier on the day three men walked up and down the street and then they went to the terminus side and then later the same men were seen shooting Thandekile.”

Thandekile, who has a seven-month-old baby, was shot around 9pm.

“He was a family man and he was violently taken from them. He also has an eight-year-old daughter.”

The woman says Thandekile owned three taxis that were on the Bellville-Nyanga route.

Police spokesperson Captain FC van Wyk says the motive for the attack is possibly related to the escalating violence in the taxi industry.

“The suspects are unknown and are yet to be arrested,” Van Wyk says.