Investigation into taxi violence

Gauteng saw three violent incidents this week involving taxi officials.

 

An ARMSTRA taxi association queue marshal was assaulted and robbed of his firearm on the R55 Olifantsfontein on Wednesday by an unknown number of taxi officials from another taxi association. 

 

Police spokesperson Lungelo Dlamini says several warning shots were fired by police officials when they arrived on the scene and the suspects managed to flee. 

 

"The suspects confronted him while he was in his vehicle and tried to disarm him. He was assaulted and sustained injuries on his face and hand. Police responded to the scene, fired warning shots and the suspects fled the scene into a group of other taxi operators at the rank," he said. 

 

The incident follows two other incidents. 

 

On Monday a group of taxi operators travelling in a convoy fired several shots at a stationary taxi parked outside MacDonalds in Woodmead. 

 

According to police the stationary taxi was empty and nobody was injured. A case of malicious damage to property has been opened. 

 

In another incident a taxi was stoned at the Randburg Taxi rank on Tuesday where two people sustained minor injuries. 

 

A case of assault and malicious damage to property is being investigated.

 

Dlamini said no arrests have been made, but police are investigating the possibility that the incidents could be related.

 

The identities of the perpetrators still need to be established.

 

 

Gauteng Traffic Police spokesperson, Busaphi Nxumalo, confirmed that Metro Police are monitoring all the areas that have been affected. 

 

On Tuesday Nxumalo said more than 30 taxis, that are not road worthy, had been impounded in Woodmead. A further 32 had was impounded again on Wednesday. 

 

(Edited by Sune Du Toit)

File photos: Gallo images 

For more news updates follow @JacaNews on Twitter