Johannesburg  - A senior South African taxi industry official was gunned down in Johannesburg Friday night amid ongoing resistance in the taxi industry to implementation of a new rapid bus system.

Tutu Molefe, first deputy president of the South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO) was shot dead near his home in the south of the city, a spokesman for the council told Johannesburg's 702 private radio. Details of the shooting were still being investigated.

It was not clear whether his killing was linked to the launch six days ago of a bus rapid transit (BRT) system in Johannesburg, which uses coach-length buses running in dedicated median lanes to ease congestion and speed transit between the city and outlying townships.

Many of the notoriously lawless private minibus taxi operators, who have monopolized commuter transport to date, had resisted the introduction of the new buses, saying they feared a loss in income and jobs.

SANTACO was one of two umbrella taxi organizations that had led opposition to the BRT, but had adopted a more conciliatory stance in recent days.

The City of Johannesburg has offered the taxi industry a stake in the BRT. Negotiations are still underway.

On Tuesday, gunmen in Soweto township opened fire on a BRT bus, injuring two passengers. SANTACO had condemned the attack.

Apart from Johannesburg, Cape Town, Port Elizabeth and Pretoria are also planning BRTs, which are the most important legacy projects arising out South Africa's hosting next year of the football World Cup.

World football body FIFA had made the provision of safe public transport for visitors a condition of South Africa's hosting of the tournament.