THE five suspects arrested in connection with taxi violence in Tembisa this week, may be linked to several other incidents of taxi violence in Olifantsfontein and Woodmead two weeks ago.
Cases of murder and attempted murder are being investigated.
Lieutenant Colonel Lungelo Dlamini, police spokesman, said: “As the provincial taxi violence task team is continuing to deal with continuing taxi violence, a breakthrough has been made in Tembisa with the seizure of six firearms and the arrest of five suspects at a guest house. They are linked to incidents of taxi violence in Tembisa where a woman was shot dead and several people shot and injured.”
He said it was suspected that the violence that took place in Tembisa was between two taxi associations having a dispute over routes. On Monday a queue marshal was shot and wounded at Sangweni taxi rank. During an investigation of the incident, police seized four illegal firearms.
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They were found in an abandoned vehicle that belong to one of the taxi associations. The vehicle was impounded for further investigations.
Police also followed up information and arrested five suspects who were found in possession of unlicensed firearms. Questioning of these suspects may lead to the arrest of more people who may be behind the spate of violence in the taxi industry, Dlamini said.
In another unrelated incident, a 32-year-old taxi owner was shot and killed by unknown suspects who fled in a Toyota minibus in the early hours of Tuesday morning in Dobsonville, Soweto. He was shot as he was leaving his house to a meeting. The motive for the killing is still under investigation. No arrests have been made.
The Gauteng Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Lesetja Mothiba, is concerned about the level of taxi violence, especially where lives are lost. While investigations are being intensified, an advocate has been allocated to help the task team dealing with taxi violence.
Police also appeal to the community to expose criminal gangs involved in taxi violence. In the past three months, police have arrested 20 suspects and 12 cases are pending at various courts in Gauteng.
“We would like to thank our dedicated members and the task team, including our partners in the fight against taxi related offences. Also my heartfelt thank you to the community in assisting the police to ensure that criminals are brought to book”, said Gen Mothiba.
