Violence in the taxi industry continues unabated and has recently reared its ugly head in Estcourt.
ALSO SEE: Estcourt and District Owners Taxi Association condemns murders on the R74
Over the past weeks, it is believed that gunmen were spotted in the Rensburgdrift area with rifles. Fearful residents requested police to patrol the area.
This is said to be tied in with the operation and ownership of the Rensburg and Khwezi taxi routes. Edward Hadebe and Councillor Mduduzi Myeza were left rattled after firearms were pointed at them by three unknown men.
They were threatened and assaulted. The gunmen were allegedly driving a grey VW Polo.
“The men told me they are going to kill me; they had big guns. Another taxi driver transporting school children was also threatened, leaving the children traumatised,” explained Mr Hadebe, who added that he is just an ordinary person.
Mr Mgadi, who is the councillor of Ward 23 (which includes Khewzi), was reliably informed that the gunmen were looking for him. The gunmen demanded that the councillors remove the current taxi operators on the said routes.
Six complainants, including Mr Hadebe and Mr Myeza, filed a case of nine counts of having a firearm pointed at them.
The accused made their first appearance in court on October 30. They will reappear for a bail application on November 8. Mr Hadebe and Mr Myeza are concerned that they were not informed of the case and don’t even know what the case number is.
“These men could be let out and our lives could be back in danger again. We urge the police to deal with this matter urgently and for the station commander to call a meeting and request peace,” the men said in unison.
The above concerns have been forwarded to the police. During a recent operation at the taxi rank facility, 52 taxi drivers were found operating on the wrong routes or without permits to operate at all, and have since been charged with operating road-based public transport without a permit.
ALSO SEE: JUST IN: Tyre’s set alight at taxi rank
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