As the Provincial Taxi Violence Task team is continuing to deal with continuing taxi violence, a breakthrough has been made in Thembisa with the seizure of six firearms and the arrest of five suspects (between the ages of 26 and 41) last night at a guest house.
The suspects are linked to incidents of taxi violence in Tembisa where a woman was shot dead and several people shot and injured. Police are further questioning these suspects as they may be linked to other several incidents of taxi violence in Olifantsfontein and Woodmead two weeks ago. Cases of murder and attempted murder are being investigated.
It is suspected that the violence that took place in Thembisa is between two taxi associations that are having a dispute over the routes. On Monday a queue marshal was shot and wounded at Sangweni taxi-rank. During an investigation of the incident, police seized four illegal firearms. They were found in an abandoned vehicle that belongs to one of the taxi associations.
The vehicle was also impounded for further investigations. Last night police also followed up information and arrested five suspects who were found in possession of unlicensed firearms. Questioning of these suspects may lead to the arrest of more other people who may be behind the spate of violence in the taxi industry.
In another unrelated incident, a 32 year-old taxi owner was shot and killed by unknown suspects who fled in Toyota mini-bus in the early hours of yesterday morning in Dobsonville, Soweto. He was shot as he was leaving his house to a meeting. The motive for the killing is still under investigation. No arrests have been made.
The Gauteng Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Lesetja Mothiba is concerned about the level of taxi violence especially where lives are lost. While investigations are being intensified, an advocate has been allocated to help the task team dealing with taxi violence. Police are also appealing to the community to expose criminal gangs involved in taxi violence. For the past three months, police have arrested 20 suspects and they are 12 cases that are already pending at various courts in Gauteng.
“We would like to thank our dedicated members and the task team including our partners in the fight against the taxi related offences. Also my heartfelt thank you to the community in assisting the police to ensure that criminals are brought to book”, said General Mothiba.
Enquiries:
Lieutenant-Colonel Lungelo Dlamini
Cell: 082 411 5311
