Recent taxi feuds in Newcastle have had many residents up in arms and worried about their safety.
Provincial spokesman for Corporate Communications of the police, Captain Thulani Zwane, explained they were doing everything in their power to put an end to the violence and ensure the community’s safety.
Three suspects were arrested and charged by the police in connection with shootings relating to the feuds.
A case of attempted murder and the pointing of a fire-arm was opened, and the three suspects appeared in court. However, the case was postponed to a further date.
In a bid to keep the violence from re-erupting, Capt. Zwane explained, “More police officers were deployed in the area to stabilise the situation. A Taxi Task Team was established to investigate those taxi related cases.”
He said the National Intervention Unit (NIU) had been monitoring the Newcastle Taxi Rank to help stabilise the situation and find the weapons used during the violence.
Amid allegations that one of the suspects and main instigators of the taxi war was a police officer, Capt. Zwane said this was why the Provincial Taxi Team had been established.
“It is not true that the police are doing nothing. Those who are allegedly involved in any criminal activities will be dealt with accordingly,” he concluded.
