Taxi driver shot at KZN rank
The mood at the Port Shepstone taxi rank remains tense today after a taxi driver was shot and wounded during an alleged incident of taxi violence at the Gamalakhe rank in KwaZulu-Natal.
Police spokesperson Captain Gerald Mfeka told The Citizen a case of attempted murder was opened after the shooting, which took place at about 7.30pm on Wednesday night.
“It is alleged that the shooting was caused by conflict between two rival taxi associations in the area,” Mfeka said.
According to Mfeka, the injured driver was later taken to hospital, where he is said to be recovering. “About five other taxis at the rank were damaged by gunfire during the shooting,” he added.
No arrests have been made, and police were still on the scene investigating on Thursday morning.
South Coast Herald captured video footage of the scene at the Port Shepstone taxi rank today: Watch it here.
This after KwaZulu-Natal police and law enforcement agencies were placed on high alert amid fears of taxi violence erupting in the province following ongoing tensions between taxi associations last month. The dispute between the two associations reportedly stemmed from routes between Port Shepstone and Durban as well as Margate and Durban.
In another incident, a taxi owner, three drivers and a passerby were shot and seriously wounded in Atteridgeville, west of Pretoria in January.
Police said the Atteridgeville Saulsville Taxi Owners Association (ASTOA) went on a tour around to check if taxis operating in the area were members of the association when an unknown number of suspects in a vehicle passed the ASTOA offices and opened fire.
– Caxton News Service
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