Five drivers injured as taxi wars erupt in Pretoria CBD

Bullet casings littered the road outside the Reserve Bank, while three damaged taxis were parked randomly on Madiba Street following a shootout yesterday between rival taxi associations in the Pretoria CBD, which left five drivers injured.

The circumstances surrounding the shooting are unclear, with members of rival taxi groups pointing fingers at each other.

A passer-by is seen looking at a damaged taxi on Madiba Street where a shootout between taxi drivers took place earlier in the morning, 5 July 2018, Pretoria. Picture: Jacques Nelles

Mamelodi taxi drivers, parked on the side of the Madiba Street ahead of the usual morning commutes, claim they were approached by a group from Menlyn Taxi Association. According to one of the drivers, the group started pelting their taxis with stones.

The driver, who did not want to be named for fear of victimisation, said: “After that, we started hearing gunshots. That is when I ran for my life. I went to the intersection on Du Toit Street and that is when I saw them attacking my vehicle and the other taxis by trying to burn them.

A passer-by looks at a damaged taxi on Madiba Street, Pretoria, where a shootout between taxi drivers took place earlier in the morning, 5 July 2018. Picture: Jacques Nelles

“I jumped into [my vehicle] and drove away. At the intersection on Du Toit Street, I bumped into Tshwane metro police officers and reported what happened to them. The group managed to run away, but we noticed they managed to torch the Toyota Quantum that was parked behind me. We managed to quickly move it and extinguish the fire.”

But according to Menlyn Taxi Association drivers, they were only retaliating as the Mamelodi drivers used their vehicles to block the road to hinder passengers from using their taxis.

A pedestrian walks past a damaged taxi on Madiba Street, Pretoria, after a shootout between taxi drivers, 5 July 2018. Picture: Jacques Nelles

Representing the Menlyn taxi drivers, Mxolisi Rakgalakane told The Citizen they politely asked the Mamelodi drivers to open the road: “They got angry because the Mamelodi drivers refused to move their vehicles. Instead, the Mamelodi drivers smashed windows of two of our taxis. That is how it all started. Our drivers were shot.”

He said two of their drivers were in a serious condition while one was awaiting surgery to remove a bullet. The other two have since been discharged.

Forensic investigators at a crime scene where a damaged taxi can be seen on Madiba Street, Pretoria, after a shootout between taxi drivers, 5 July 2018. Picture: Jacques Nelles

Police spokesperson Colonel Noxolo Kweza confirmed that five taxi drivers were taken to hospital.

She said: “Two taxis were burned in retaliation. The relevant roleplayers attended the scene, but no arrests have been made at this stage. Police are monitoring the situation.”

The Mamelodi driver said he would continue to report to work, despite the ongoing violence: “It has never been this serious. But I am not scared. I am going to fix my windows and return to work.”

Tshwane MMC for transport Sheila-Lynn Senkubuge condemned the violence.

– rorisangk@citizen.co.za

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