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‘We enjoy an amicable relationship with the Bara City Taxi Owners Association’.
Eldorado Park residents can breathe a sigh of relief, according to Johannesburg Southern Suburbs Taxi Association (JSSTA) spokesperson, Abel Petersen.
The recent shooting death of 30-year-old Justice Masongweni in Freedom Park has taxi owners and drivers on edge and this week, Freedom Park was a virtual no-go zone for JSSTA drivers.
Petersen indicated that the tensions between JSSTA and the Bara City Taxi Owners Association (BCTOA) flared up after the shooting death of another taxi driver one week ago in Booysens.
- UPDATE: Taxi driver died in a hail of bullets – [related story]
While no reasons have been given for the dispute between the two drivers, Petersen confirmed that the matter was under investigation by the South African Police Service and was unable to say whether the gunman in that instance was arrested.
He hinted at sinister elements being behind Monday night’s shooting and said, “We suspect that there is a this a third force involved in the shooting by a group who want to control the routes from Devland, Freedom Park and Naturena to the city centre. They want to pit the two associations (JSSTA and BCTOA) against each other in their efforts to set up their own association.”
Petersen further added that the situation has been volatile over the past three or four years with intermittent flare-ups and peace talks and fears that both associations may have been infiltrated by drivers affiliated with the ‘third force’.
- Taxi violence flares up in Eldos, leaves commuters stranded – [related story]
After numerous meetings with government officials and BCTOA representatives yesterday, a decision was reached to continue operating normally from tomorrow.
When asked what measures would be taken to ensure passengers’ safety, he said that both associations have called on SAPS and the taxi violence squad who would monitor hot spots and act should the need arise.
When asked which specific routes were fuelling the violence, he said, “We (JSSTA) enjoy an amicable relationship with BCTOA and share the routes from Freedom Park, Johannesburg Central Prison (Sun City) and Naturena to Southgate Mall and the city centre.”
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