Task team launched to tackle Mthatha taxi violence

A POLICE task team comprising detectives, crime intelligence and visible policing officers has been established to trace and arrest suspects involved in shootings related to minibus taxi violence in Mthatha, Eastern Cape.

In one incident, a 40-year-old minibus taxi driver was shot dead by unknown gunmen at Riverside near Corhana on the R61 around midday on Friday, Captain Dineo Koena said.

It was alleged that the minibus taxi driver was ferrying passengers from Ntlaza to Mthatha when he was stopped by a white Toyota Corolla with no number plates.

“Four unknown balaclava-clad assailants fired several shots at him, killing him instantly. All the passengers and his conductor escaped unhurt,” Koena said.

In another incident, a 37-year-old minibus taxi owner from Northcrest taxi rank was also shot dead by unknown gunmen at Maqanyeni in the Sibangweni administrative area.

The shooting was at about 7pm on Friday. It was alleged that the man, a colleague, and his wife were attacked while travelling together on the N2 from Durban to Mthatha.

“The deceased, a passenger, died at the scene while his colleague fled the scene and his wife was rushed to hospital in a critical condition,” Koena said.

Also on Friday, around 8pm, a 36-year-old man, a passenger in a minibus taxi, was shot dead by unknown assailants at Riverside near Corhana. The taxi was ferrying passengers from Mthatha to Gxulu in Libode when it was attacked.

The passenger and the taxi conductor, who was also shot, were rushed to Ngangelizwe Community Health Centre where the passenger died. The conductor was in hospital in a critical condition.

All the incidents were associated with taxi violence in Mthatha. Police were investigating murder and attempted murder cases, Koena said.

“We condemn the attacks and urge taxi groups to find ways to resolve their disputes. We appeal to them to come to us when they have a misunderstanding so can we sit together and solve it,” Mthatha policing cluster acting commander Brigadier Nomawethu Makonza said. – African News Agency (ANA)