ICYMI: New route leads to taxi turf war in Fourways

Johannesburg Metro police this evening have confirmed that 10 drivers have been arrested following the violent outbreak between two taxi associations over turf in Fourways.

Spokespersons for the Joburg Public Safety Department, Wayne Minnaar and Edna Mamonyane, this evening, 26 October, issued a statement that read, “JMPD officers gave backup to Saps officers today and arrested 10 taxi drivers at about 2pm on Thursday, 26 October, 2017.

“The incident happened at the Fourways Mall [and] on the R511 near Diepsloot where members of two taxi associations were fighting over a new taxi route which will be from the new Riverside View Makro Mall near Diepsloot.”

The statement further stated that 10 suspects were inside one taxi and shooting at tyres of opposing taxis as well as at Saps officers.

“A suspect from the shooting group got injured in the altercation and had to be taken to hospital,” read the statement.

Saps, Johannesburg Metro police and the Gauteng Taxi Task Team officers will monitor the situation, said Minnaar and Mamonyane’s statement.

Earlier

According to Ward 94 Councillor David Foley, the conflict is between ATA and Ruuldta. It is alleged that the conflict concerns the Makro store that is set to open at Riverside View in Diepsloot.

He also added that three ATA members have been arrested by the police. The shooting between the two associations occurred next to Fourways Mall and the violence spread to Kyalami, according to Foley.

Douglasdale police, along with Metro, attempted to stop a white Toyota Quantum carrying 11 suspects who fired shots at the tyres of other taxis around the Fourways area. The other drivers retaliated by shooting through their windows.

Police opened fire, injuring one suspect and detaining a further 10, according to Metro police.

Update, 26 October, 3.15pm: 

Brigadier Sammy Thambo, the Douglasdale police station commander, has confirmed the shooting in Fourways but could not verify whether it was taxi violence or not.

The suspects who began the shooting abandoned their white Quantum minibus and ran into a building next to Fourways Mall.

Five suspects have been arrested and will be taken in for questioning. Thambo said residents can rest assured that the situation is under control.

There were no injuries during the shooting. Douglasdale police and the K9 unit are currently looking for firearms.

Original report, 26 October, 2.46pm

Police are on the scene of a taxi violence incident on the corner of Fourways Boulevard and Cedar Road this afternoon, 26 October.

The Douglasdale Community Policing Forum has warned the public to ‘be careful’ at the intersection and said police were on the scene. Some roads have been closed.

Reports from the scene indicate there was a shooting.

@paptterfly tweeted that one person had been shot dead, but this is unconfirmed at this stage.

https://twitter.com/paptterfly/status/923520844437114880

https://twitter.com/SeseTetiwe/status/923519337528528896

Initial reports that surfaced also alleged an armed robbery had taken place but it has since been said by the community policing forum and security companies that the incident is related to taxi violence.

One person said Armed Robbery but according to Douglasdale SAPS – its Taxi Violence.

— RHeiti (@RHeiti) October 26, 2017

Traffic reports indicate there will be delays on William, Nicol Drive, Witkoppen Road and Percey Street as well.

#JHBTraffic In Fourways there is a crime scene at the Fourways Mall- Expect delays on William Nicol Drive, Witkoppen Road and Percy St.

— EWN Traffic (@EWNTraffic) October 26, 2017

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