Baby injured in taxi feud
Twenty-three Bambanani taxi drivers were arrested last Thursday and Friday, however charges against them were withdrawn.
A nine-month-old baby was among the injured after violence erupted between Bambanani and Gamalakhe taxi associations in Margate last Friday.
A woman police officer was also shot while attending to a report of a shoot-out.
KZN police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda said a minibus taxi approached at high speed and one of the occupants fired a shot, and the officer was injured on the foot.
“The shooting incident is believed to have been a continuation of a taxi industry feud which erupted last Thursday. Rival taxi associations had several altercations on the day and a few people, including a nine-month-old baby were injured.”
Netshiunda said cases of malicious damage to property had been registered with the police and 23 people were arrested in the process.
Twenty-three Bambanani taxi drivers were arrested last Thursday and Friday, however charges against them were withdrawn, and they were released before they could appear in court on Monday this week.
At the time, people and motorists were warned to stay away from Margate as it was unsafe. Some schools and businesses closed their doors. On Monday morning this week, Bambanani had a shutdown of its services and did not operate from their surrounding areas and blocked roads to Margate. A meeting between the associations, Saps Crime Intelligence and Department of Transport was held, to try and find a solution or to control the situation.
The PRO for Bambanani, Martin Ngcungama said they agreed that Saps will be deployed to ensure that no violence erupts and to help calm the situation.
Ngcungama said they also agreed to operate as per normal until they reach a solution.
Furthermore, he said the association is unhappy with its permits because some of their routes have been taken away.
The spokesperson for Gamalakhe Taxi Association, who did not wish to be named, said the situation has calmed down, but all is not well because Bambanani is not keeping to the agreement.
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