A dispute between two taxi operators nearly turned deadly last Tuesday when bullets went flying. The taxi war between the Successful United Taxi Association (Suta) and Topstar had reportedly been going on for quite some time but hadn’t affected residents until the violence escalated on October 14.
According to Mr Gerald Sedibe, communications officer of the provincial SAPS, a Mbombela-based taxi company named Topstar reportedly turned up at the Hazyview Taxi Rank to pick up passengers. Suta drivers who operate in Hazyview, Bushbuckridge and Mbombela, were unhappy about their counterparts encroaching on their market and a fight broke out.
The two groups started throwing each other with stones, but scattered when a passing car’s occupants allegedly started shooting at the crowd. One man was hit in the leg.
Police were notified of the incident and the taxi driver was taken to hospital for treatment. Residents were alarmed by the shooting and a warning went out to avoid the taxi rank area for the day.
A case of attempted murder was opened, but no arrests have been made as of yet. Police are continuing with their investigations.
Anyone with information which could lead to the arrests of the suspects can contact the Hazyview Police Station on 013-737-8284.
