9 taxi drivers in court for assault
The incident, which occurred at a taxi rank in Polokwane in August 2023, was apparently in retaliation of an earlier mugging.
POLOKWANE – Nine suspects appeared in the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court on Monday facing charges of murder, assault with the intent to do grievous bodily harm, kidnapping and possession of an unlicensed firearm.
In August last year, a group of taxi drivers associated with the Maja Choene Association are said to have assaulted two persons at the Buite taxi holding centre in Polokwane.
According to police spokesperson Col Malesela Ledwaba, the police promptly responded and found two injured victims at the scene.
One of them succumbed to his injuries later that same day, while the other survived the ordeal, Ledwaba said in a statement.
A day later, the same group of taxi drivers and a community member reportedly assaulted and kidnapped a third victim, who remains unaccounted for to date.
Ledwaba said that it has since surfaced that one of the taxi drivers had earlier been the victim of a mugging, which led to possible incidents of retaliation.
On March 1, a coordinated effort by the provincial task team unit, Polokwane detectives, and the Technical Response Team (TRT) led to the successful arrest of the nine suspects across Ga Maja, Ga Molepo and Polokwane.
Frans Maredi (33), Adam Mojapelo (33), Vincent Thaba (40), Jackson Modiba (38), Ally Mojapelo (39), Wilson Tema (49), Mabule Modiba (40), Jonas Kgopa (38), and Ephraim Senona (34) all appeared on court on various charges.
Provincial police commissioner Lt Gen Thembi Hadebe praised the officers for their meticulous work in apprehending the suspects and emphasised the importance of community cooperation. She urged residents to report any suspicious activity to the police rather than taking matters into their own hands.
The case has been adjourned to March 13.
