Four suspects linked to taxi violence in Tshwane arrested

The Gauteng provincial government has welcomed the arrest of four suspects allegedly linked to the killing of three taxi operators in Tshwane.

Public transport and roads infrastructure MEC Jacob Mamabolo said the suspects were linked to taxi violence in the Atteridgeville area.

The four suspects were arrested on Thursday.

He said police recovered two illegal firearms, ammunition and stolen cellphones linking the suspects to other crimes.

He lauded the police for another arrest on Wednesday when an intelligence-driven investigation led to the arrest of members of a security company from KwaZulu-Natal and the recovery of a number of assault rifles.

“It is suspected the company is linked to taxi-related violence that was expected to erupt in Ennerdale.”

Mamabolo has since commended the SAPS Gauteng task team and the traffic police for acting proactively to prevent taxi violence in Lawley.

He said recently, they prevented lawlessness in the south of Johannesburg, by arresting heavily armed members of a security company with links to the taxi industry.

“This sterling work by the task team comes at a time when we as a province have declared 2021 as the year of ending taxi violence.

“It is encouraging to see the good work being done on the ground to rid the industry of murderers,” said Mamabolo.

“We want to issue a stern warning to those in the industry who pay murderers and stoke the fires of violence that the law is closing in. We are working very hard together with law-enforcement agencies to ensure that no stone is left unturned in uncovering the plots and arresting those who are responsible. The law will prevail.”

The arrests come after the findings of the commission of inquiry into taxi violence led by retired Justice Jeremiah Shongwe were released.

The commission pronounced strongly on violence in the industry and made recommendations to ensure that the province rid itself of the scourge.

“We look forward to engagements with representatives from the sector, South African National Taxi Council and National Taxi Alliance in Gauteng after they have studied the report from the commission.

“I strongly believe that, as a collective, we can turn the corner on this scourge of violence and bring about stability to the industry that transports a majority of public transport commuters” said Mamabolo.

This also comes as the Gauteng police commissioner reaffirmed that police were committed to dealing “decisively” with taxi violence in the province following the release of the final report of the commission of inquiry into the mini-bus taxi-type service violence, fatalities and instability in the province.

Gauteng police commissioner Lieutenant-General Elias Mawela said the SAPS commitment would address the deficiencies flagged by the commission towards ensuring the safety of commuters and the public in general.

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