UPDATE: 53 arrests made at Mall of Africa taxi shooting

In a press statement, The Gauteng MEC for Community Safety, Sizakele Nkosi-Malobane and Roads and Transport MEC Ismail Vadi, met with taxi associations to iron out the violence that marred the Mall of Africa opening week on 4 May.

Jabulani Ntshangase, Alexandra Taxi Association’s (ATA) spokesperson, claimed that taxi owners from his association and the Alexandra, Midrand, Sandton Taxi Association (Amsta) were having a meeting at a taxi rank west of Mall of Africa about taxi routes when police suddenly arrived and allegedly opened fire on them. He said the altercation led to the shooting of one of their members as well as a female bystander.

When questioned about the eight firearms that were confiscated from some of the taxi owners that were present at the shooting, Ntshangase said, “Well those were personal guns that they probably carry for safety, I cannot comment on those.”

UPDATE: 10 May, 2pm

“They wanted to turn us into Marikana,” said an irate Jabulani Ntshangase, Alexander Taxi Association’s (ATA) spokesperson. Ntshangase claimed that taxi owners from his association and the Alexandra, Midrand, Sandton Taxi Association (Amsta) were having a meeting at a taxi rank west of Mall of Africa on 4 May about taxi routes, when police suddenly arrived and allegedly opened fire on them.

Read WATCH: Shootout at Mall of Africa

“How can they shoot at people who are running away,” he asked. When questioned about the seven firearms that were confiscated from some of the taxi owners that were present at the shooting, Ntshangase said, “Well those were personal guns that they probably carry for safety, I cannot comment on those.”
He said they intended to lay charges against the police for the shooting. “They did not use rubber bullets and the cartridges that are found there, are all theirs,” he said.

Police spokesperson Captain Tshekiso Mofokeng did not comment on the validity of Ntshangase’s claims. “I suggest that they go and report that at a police station if they are saying that,” said Mofokeng. He said that they were busy with the investigation that will reveal whether or not any of the firearms that were confiscated are illegal or registered.
Athlenda Mathe, spokesperson for Netcare 911 said that the victims were recovering in hospital. “One of them, the one who is part of a taxi association is under police guard,” said Mathe.

Read more:

Unemployed waiting to be seen at Mall Of Africa

Read the initial report about the shootout on 4 May.