Mpumalanga: Violence erupts in eMbalenhle and Evander as Megabus, Vukta taxi association clash

More than 20 taxis have been vandalized in eMbalenhle and Evander, Mpumalanga taxi violence, Ridge Times reports.

Police are currently at Blue Rank and had given those inside five minutes to move out. A taxi driver was shot dead at the Blue Rank in a clash between the police and the Vukanini Taxi Association.

His body is still lying on the ground. Some taxi drivers are receiving medical attention from paramedics. It is alleged that they were shot by the police.

The media made several attempts to get hold of Brig Leonard Hlathi, police spokesman, with no luck.

The ongoing clash between police and taxi drivers erupted on Tuesday afternoon in eMbalenhle, Mpumalanga, after taxi drivers allegedly impounded two buses belonging to Megabus,

Police intervened and escorted the buses to a place of safety.

The police’s tactical response team was activated to intervene when shots were allegedly fired in the clash.

Drivers closed the intersection near the Mall@Emba with burning tyres.

According to reliable sources, the taxi drivers then attacked the police.

Violence continued on Wednesday, with the R546 between eMbalenhle and Standerton declared a no-go zone for motorists and commuters on Wednesday morning.

Trucks parked across the road to Sasol’s Charlie 3 entrance as well as in other parts of the township. A second truck at Charlie 3 was set alight at about midnight.

Alf Byleveldt from Jelani Security was just in time to bring the fire under control in the cabin of the petrol tanker before it spread. The Govan Mbeki municipal fire brigade extinguished the blaze.

Roads in the township were also strewn with rocks and debris this morning, making them inaccessible.

The intersection at Ext 12 and the road towards Graceland was also blocked off.

No taxis or buses are operational.

Later on Wednesday, police began clearing some of the roads that were blocked.