Taxi rivalry ends after shooting
A member of the Seshego Taxi Association was arrested on Friday night for the shooting of Ben Nonyana, a member of the Mankweng Taxi Association last Thursday.
POLOKWANE – A member of the Seshego Taxi Association was arrested on Friday night for the shooting of Ben Nonyana, a member of the Mankweng Taxi Association last Thursday.
The suspect appeared before the Polokwane magistrate’s court on a charge of attempted murder on Monday. He was released on R1 000 bail and the case was postponed to September 8.
Last Thursday afternoon taxi drivers from the Seshego and Mankweng taxi associations got into a fight over commuters and routes. Nonyana tried to stop the fight when a shot was fired and he was hit.
The incident happened at the R81 traffic light just outside Polokwane (eyewitness account).
According to the Mankweng Taxi Association public relations officer, Frans Kgasago, and the Seshego Taxi Association’s spokesperson, Sethosa Tipe, the taxi rivalry between their associations had ended.
“We are operating as usual, there is no more fighting. Commuters can be rest assured that what happened last Thursday will never happen again,” Kgasago said.
He also added that Nonyana was released from hospital and recovering well at home.
On the day of the incident, last Thursday, the Seshego, Mankweng and Flora Park taxi associations had a meeting with the police at the Polokwane police station.
At this meeting Seshego and Mankweng discussed their challenges with the police.
According to the Seshego Taxi Association, the taxis from Mankweng stopped along the road and picked up commuters who were travelling from a mall on the outskirts of the city, to the city, which was the route of the Seshego taxis.
But the Mankweng Taxi Association argued that their permits allowed them to pick up people along the road.
During their meeting with the police the two taxi associations came to an agreement that Seshego would transport commuters from the mall to the city and from the Oriental Plaza in Excelsior Street to the mall. Mankweng would transport commuters from Mankweng to the city and back, and would also be able to pick up people along the road.
On Monday the Seshego, Mankweng and Flora Park taxi associations had a meeting with the department of transport, safety and liaison as well as the police, but the associations were not happy as they said not all the stakeholders had been present at the meeting.
The associations said they had wanted transport, safety and liaison MEC, Mapula Mokaba-Phukwana and the registrar who was responsible for the issuing of permits and allocation of routes to be present at the meeting.
Kgasago said the meeting was adjourned and postponed to Friday for all stakeholders to be present to give answers and clarity on certain issues.
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