Rival taxi drivers in violent clashes

A taxi driver lost an arm and another his eye after violence between operators erupted near Libode at the weekend over passengers.

Police said the situation was still tense yesterday and a large contingent of heavily armed officers were keeping an eye on the warring factions.

Chairman of the Port St Johns Taxi Owners’ Association Velaphi Fanele said the violence started after one of his drivers picked up passengers from a restricted area near Libode on Friday.

Fanele said taxis on their route to Mthatha from Port St Johns were not allowed to pick up any passengers within 10km on either side of Libode.

“Honestly, drivers do take chances and steal passengers. If you do that and you are spotted, the guys from Libode will drain your passengers and offload them,” he said..

“One of our drivers did that and he was beaten up. There was a revenge attack which then led to the outbreak of violence.”

According to an existing agreement between the rival organisations, Fanele said drivers found guilty of stealing passengers faced a R300 fine.

Libode Taxi Owners’ Association spokesman Fezile Manina accused the Port St Johns drivers of starting the violence.

“They want to load by force. Drivers are only allowed to load in their own town. They are not playing by the rules,” he said.

Early yesterday, more than 100 fuming operators from Libode met at the scene and expressed their outrage at the damage. Leaders of the rival groups were headed to a meeting to resolve their differences.

Heavily armed police were deployed to Thabo Mbeki township on the border of Libode.

Fatyela said no arrests had been made.