As Steadville protesters blocked off key roads around Steadville in their battle against high taxi tariffs and the Klipriver Taxi Association on Tuesday afternoon (yesterday), police in an unmarked car were travelling along Helpmekaar Road towards Ladysmith.
The officers, not from Ladysmith, were unaware of what was going on until they drove smack bang into the middle of the protest roadblock.
The protesters began stoning their vehicle. As they were surrounded by the mob, the officers jumped out and opened fire. Firing into the air, they managed to clear a path through the protesters, surviving what could have been a deadly ambush. They reported the incident once in Ladysmith.
A second more deadly ambush happened late in the evening as police using municipal graders tried to push their way through 1.5 metre high barricades erected in Steadville. According to a source, protesters opened fire, shooting at one of the graders. The driver noticed that vehicles were being positioned to block him in and police had to deploy to protect the grader.
Shortly afterwards, police and graders withdrew from Steadville.
We are awaiting official police confirmation of the second incident.
Related stories:
More taxi-related protests expected this morning
Shots fired to move protesters
Cars come to a standstill in Newcastle Road
