Taxi war breaks out near Brits

A minibus taxi was set alight and 10 other vehicles damaged yesterday in taxi violence over routes disputes in Letlhabile, near Brits, North West police said.

“One taxi belonging to a member of Hebron Taxi Association was set alight while approximately 10 others belonging to Letlhabile Taxi Association members were stoned and damaged.

“It is further alleged that one Hebron Taxi Association operator was shot at while at Oskraal Village. He was taken to hospital for medical treatment,” said police spokesperson brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone.

He said the situation was calm and neither taxi association was operating.

The associations were in dispute over the Brits route.

Johannes Tumanyane, secretary of the Letlhabile Taxi Association, said Hebron Taxi Association wanted to operate from New Town direct to Brits. New Town is a new settlement near Letlhabile.

He said Hebron had been given an operating licence on the New Town-Brits route, but they would also go in to Letlhabile to offload passengers and there was a possibility that they would take people from Letlhabile to Brits.

Hebron Taxi Association said it would comment later on the incident. – ANA