Taxi owner shot during EC service delivery protest

A 62-year-old taxi owner was shot and killed allegedly by police in Keiskammahoek this morning.

Border Alliance Taxi Association chairman Peter Mgunculu said the man was killed while he was running from police with a group of people.

Mgunculu said the protest was over service delivery issues in Keiskammahoek, particularly road conditions. “Residents were still gathering to support the protest at around 4am when the incident happened,” he said.

He claimed police arrived and instructed them to disperse before shooting at the protesters.

The man, who was part of the protest, was running towards the Keiskammahoek River around 4am when he was shot, he said.

"We have been pleading with the authorities to fix our roads because this is damaging our vehicles."

Some people were injured and taken to hospital, he said.

Eastern Cape provincial police spokesman Khaya Tonjeni confirmed the man’s death. He said the cause of death could not be confirmed at the moment.

“There has been a number of people arrested and cars impounded in this morning’s incident,” he said.