POLOKWANE – Police arrested a 35-year-old man following a recent incident of taxi violence in the central business district (CBD) where three minibus taxis was damaged, and two people were injured.
He was charged with malicious damage to property and public violence.
Polokwane Police Spokesperson, Lt Colonel Moatshe Ngoepe, confirmed the arrest and said more arrests are expected. He said the suspect is expected to appear before the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court soon on the charges.
“The suspect was arrested during the week and investigations are still ongoing which might lead to the arrest of others involved in the incident,” Ngoepe told Review.
One person has been shot in what appears to be a taxi related violence at the Indian Centre, Polokwane. @PolokwaneReview @AfricanTimesSA pic.twitter.com/HIfPeOvG00
— HONNETSWENG EMS (@HONNETSWENG_EMS) November 8, 2016
It is alleged two taxi associations had a conflict over the operating routes when a group of people arrived in a mini-bus and started shooting at random. During the shooting the gang injured two people who were rushed to hospital to receive medical attention. The same group set a parked taxi alight and damaged two others.
The gang then allegedly kidnapped a man at the scene but released him soon afterward while making their escape.
Ngoepe advised taxi associations that they should make use of legal structures such as the Taxi Council and the Department of Transport to resolve their disputes or conflicts rather than resorting to violence.
