BUSHBUCKRIDGE – According to reports, Hazyview taxi operators have been refusing those from Bushbuckridge to drive, through what they refer to as “their territory”.
This resulted in taxis having to follow a longer route to Nelspruit via Sabie and Graskop, and, says COPE, who reacted to the violence this week in a press statement, it has become a serious burden to commuters who ended up having to spend an extra two hours on the road.
COPE’s provincial secretary, Mr Sizile Ndlovu says he even went to the extent of writing letters to the MEC for Department: Public works, Roads and Transport (DPWRT), as well as community safety, security and liaison, requesting their intervention.
On Monday a shopkeeper in Bushbuckrige told Lowvelder that factions engaged in skirmishes just after 09:00 during which a man was seriously injured with a panga. Another man was killed when he was hit by a taxi. The SAPS arrived on the scene and dispersed the crowd at around 11:00.
On Tuesday a fight erupted again, with bakkie loads of rocks being carted in for use as ammunition, an eyewitness reported. Police presence kept the violence under control.
The DPWRT held meetings with the relevant operators on Wednesday.
