KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison, Mr Willies Mchunu is outraged at the shooting at a taxi rank in Ballito. According to the police report the shooting ensued yesterday, 19 March 2013 when a group of people invaded the Ballito taxi rank and opened fire.
It is alleged the conflict is between KwaDukuza Taxi association and Dolphin Coast Taxi association over a route from Ballito to Tongaat. The matter was brought to the attention of the Department of Transport and processes have been put in motion to resolve this depute. Yesterday a meeting was convened by the department with the leadership of both associations to address this problem.
Two people have been confirmed to have sustained injuries and police have confirmed investigating this matter. Commenting on this incident Mchunu appealed for calm and assured the commuters that police are there to monitor the situation.
“I condemn this attack and shooting in strongest terms. Such incidents are reversing the stability and progress that has been made in the taxi industry. Last year at the Taxi Indaba we all collectively resolved to ensure peace and stability in the taxi industry and no one has authority to work against this commitment.
The Department of Transport has started engaging the two associations in trying to find solutions to this problem. I urge all parties to participate in this process started by the department in the interest of peace. I also appeals for calm and I assure the commuters that police are monitoring the situation,” said Mchunu.
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Kwanele Ncalane
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