LIMPOPO – Police in Hoedspruit, outside Phalaborwa, arrested 10 taxi operators on Friday, 25 January, soon after a shootout erupted as a result of conflict over routes in the area
The feud over the routes has been brewing since December 2018 and despite intervention by relevant authorities, the factions seem hellbent on causing havoc.
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“The shooting incident allegedly took place at around 13:00 on Friday, after security vehicles hired by one of the taxi associations, to escort their taxis operating in a disputed area, were confronted and chased away by a group of people believed to be members of another taxi association. The occupants of the security vehicles then responded by shooting at taxis,” explained police spokesperson, Col Moatshe Ngoepe.
Three men were shot during the shootout and sustained serious injuries and three Toyota Quantums, belonging to the local taxi association were also damaged.
Ngoepe says 10 suspects were cornered and arrested after a car chase.
During the arrest, two rifles with 20 rounds of live ammunition, four pistols and two vehicles (allegedly belonging to the suspects) were recovered.
“The suspects will appear before the Hoedspruit Magistrates Court on Monday and will face charges of attempted murder and malicious damage to property,” he added.
Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service in Limpopo Lieutenant General Nneke Ledwaba has condemned the incident and urged all involved to engage with relevant authorities to solve their problems.
