Taxi association engages with police, municipality after Richards Bay ‘vigilante revenge’

Richards Bay Taxi Association Chairperson Dennis Busani Ndlazi said they had been engaged in ongoing discussions with City of uMhlathuze and Richards Bay SAPS over their frustration with drug users (paras) targeting their commuters in and around Taxi City, reports Zululand Observer.

“While we do not know the group of people who were moving around the CBD on Thursday, as the association, we were deeply saddened by the attack and subsequent death of a community member near the taxi rank on Wednesday, and believe this also angered members of the public.”

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Police remain on high alert throughout the city.

“We have informed the municipality on numerous occasions that we are not happy with the people living in and around Taxi City, and also appealed to the Richards Bay SAPS to help us with this problem.

“The paras are worrying our passengers and their safety and security has become a major concern; many commuters have been held up by the paras for their belongings.”

A vehicle believed to be owned by a businessman was torched on Thursday morning. PHOTO: Conelia Harry

“Even taxi fares have been stolen as paras pose as passengers and run off with the collected fares.

“During the unrest, luckily none of our passengers or drivers were hurt and no damages were reported to any of the vehicles.

“Calm was restored over the weekend but something needs to be done to resolve this issue of paras living in and around the taxi rank,” said Ndlazi.

Several small business owners, many of them foreign nationals, camped outside the Richards Bay Police Station on Friday to report cases after they were caught in the crossfire and vendor stalls and containers were looted and set alight.

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