Libode rank closed due to ongoing taxi violence

The Ntlaza taxi rank in Libode has been closed indefinitely while at least two taxis were damaged in Mthatha today as ongoing taxi violence continues.

Thousands of people in Mthatha had to walk long distances as no taxis are operating.

And those who were brave enough to transport people were forced to drop them off as Uncedo Taxi Association and their Border Alliance counterparts clashed over operating routes.

In Nelson Mandela Drive next to the Walter Sisulu University campus, a Toyota Quantum and a Venture aligned to Border Alliance were damaged by a mob that allegedly was in a Uncedo Taxi Association-aligned vehicle.

They hit the two vehicles with sticks and pangas. Passengers said they now feared for their lives as the violence appeared to have no end in sight.

Eastern Cape provincial police commissioner Lieutenant-General Liziwe Ntshinga called for swift action to be taken against the perpetrators.

She is currently locked in a closed meeting with taxi bosses in Mthatha.

Before the meeting, she told DispatchLIVE she was concerned about the ongoing taxi violence.

“There is cooperation from taxi bosses but there seems to be no cooperation on the ground. I am very concerned about the ongoing taxi violence in Mthatha because it is spreading to other parts now,” she said.

Mthatha police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Mzukisi Fatyela said: “The Ntlaza taxi rank has closed until further notice. We have also deployed to patrol with the assistance of a helicopter.”