Hoedspruit: Members of the South African Police Service in Hoedspruit outside Phalaborwa have on Friday 2019-01-25 arrested ten (10) taxi operators aged between 26 and 44 soon after a shootout erupted during an alleged conflict over routes in the area.
The feud over these routes has been brewing since December 2018 and despite the intervention by the relevant authorities, the factions seem hell-bent on causing havoc.
The shooting incident allegedly took place at around 13h00 on 2019-01-25, after security vehicles hired by one Taxi Association to escort their taxis operating in a disputed area were confronted and chased away by a group of people believed to be members of another Taxi Association. The occupants of these security vehicles then responded by shooting at these taxis.
Three men were in the process struck by bullets and sustained serious injuries. Three Toyota Quantums belonging to the local Taxi association were also damaged.
The police were called and immediately responded, joined by members of Tactical Response Team (TRT). A total of ten (10) suspects were then cornered and arrested after a car chase.
During the arrest, the following items were recovered:
* Two (02) rifles with 20 live rounds of ammunition;
* Four (04) pistols and
* Two vehicles, an Audi and a NP200 allegedly belonging to the suspects.
The suspects will appear before the Hoedspruit Magistrate’s Court on Monday 2019-01-28, facing charges of attempted murder and malicious damage to property.
The Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service in Limpopo Lieutenant General Nneke Ledwaba has condemned the acts of violence within the Taxi industry and urged all involved to engage the relevant authorities to solve their problems. He further warned all trouble makers that they will face the full might of the law.
The Police investigations are still continuing.
Limpopo: Police arrest suspects involved in taxi violence related incidents https://t.co/ttybfr5H1o #ArriveAlive #TaxiViolence #Crime @SAPoliceService pic.twitter.com/7oSmhaqusG
— Arrive Alive (@_ArriveAlive) January 27, 2019