Taxi operators flee after rivals fire shots and slashes their tyres
The spot appears to be a prime real estate site for taxi operators
Two gunshots fired in the air last week Thursday morning saw taxi operators along the R40 next to Tiger Wheel & Tyre fleeing for their lives.
The drivers, who are purportedly registered to the KaBokweni Taxi Association (KTA), use the slip road along the busy R40 to tout for fares, and their minibuses are a permanent fixture as commuters are ferried to and from work each day.
It appears as though the spot they are operating on is considered prime real estate in the local minibus taxi industry, as another taxi association, which also operates on the same route, do not collect the same number of commuters as KTA.
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According to the visibly shaken taxi drivers, members of the rival Pienaar Taxi Association approached them and fired two shots in the air.
“It was a group of guys in a minibus taxi who parked next to the fleet of taxis and cut the tyres’ valves, completely deflating the tyres of all the taxis parked on the side of the road.
“When the drivers heard the shots, they ran for their lives, leaving the taxis behind.”
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After ascertaining that the danger had passed, the shaken drivers returned to replace their flat tyres and would not comment about what triggered the incident.
Police spokesman, Brig Leonard Hlathi was unaware of the incident at the time and could not provide comment. He did, however, receive the information at a later stage and is awaiting an assessment report from the police.
