KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison, Willies Mchunu, has called for calm and restraint following the shooting of a taxi owner and driver on the R102 in Groutville outside KwaDukuza this morning.
A police report revealed that two unknown assailants opened fire at occupants in a taxi travelling on R102, killing two occupants. The deceased are believed to be a prominent taxi operator under the KwaDukuza Taxi Association and his driver.
After committing this senseless deed, the suspects then fled the scene. The shooting is allegedly associated with running tensions between the KwaDukuza taxi association and Dolphin Coast taxi association. The dispute between the two associations is over taxi routes between Ballito and Durban.
Early this year incidents of violence were reported where bystanders were hurt in a shooting that ensued in a Ballito shopping complex. Immediately after the shooting ensued, MEC Mchunu assigned a high level team from Public Transport Unit to start engagements with the associations.
Mchunu has strongly condemned the latest shooting and called on the two associations to stop the killings and start peaceful engagements to find one another.
“It is unfortunate that people resort to violent means to settle their differences. This incident is unacceptable as it undermines the progress that has been made by government in addressing taxi conflict in the area. We have dispatched a team from our Public Transport unit to work with law enforcement agencies and engage all affected parties,” said Mchunu.
He also assured the people of KwaDukuza that police will be intensifying their visibility and investigate the murders so the killers could be brought to justice soon.
“We are confident that police will swiftly find perpetrators of this ugly deed whose mission is to destabilise the now broadly stable taxi industry. We will stop them in their tracks by dealing firmly and decisively with the culprits. I also would like to send my deepest condolences to the families of the people who lost their lives,” said Mchunu.
Media contacts:
Kwanele Ncalane
Cell: 072 803 1462 or 079 699 5755
Nathi Sukazi
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Twitter: @KZNTransport
