KZN police arrest up to 15 suspects after e-hailing drivers shot and assaulted
Police in KwaZulu-Natal have 15 people for questioning in connection with the altercation between e-hailing drivers and taxi owners.
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KwaZulu-Natal police have arrested between 10 and 15 suspects following the shooting and assault of e-hailing drivers in KwaDabeka Township on Wednesday.
The arrests were confirmed by SAPS police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda on Thursday.
"Police in KwaZulu-Natal have 15 people for questioning in connection with the altercation between e-hailing drivers and taxi owners and taxi drivers which resulted in the attempted murder of one e-hailing driver and the assault of another in KwaDabeka on Wednesday morning," said Netshiunda.
According to Netshiunda, police responded to reports of a gunshot, and when they arrived on Zaza Road, they discovered that a group of taxi owners and drivers had approached e-hailing drivers who had parked their vehicles on the side of the road and requested that they relocate them.
"It was also reported that during the altercation, a firearm was discharged, and a bullet went through the passenger door of one of the e-hailing vehicles, with the driver inside the vehicle. Another e-hailing driver was also reportedly assaulted during the commotion," he said.
The province's MEC for Transport and Human Settlements, Siboniso Duma, said decisive action had been taken in collaboration with Provincial Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.
"Nothing should come between us and prosperity. The shooting and assault of e-hailing drivers yesterday should not be repeated in any part of KwaZulu-Natal.
"We welcome the arrest of between 10 and 15 suspects in this morning's operation," Duma said on Thursday.
E-hailing driver Mhlengi Gumede, who claims to have been caught up in the attack, said he narrowly escaped with his life.
“We were parked where we usually do, waiting for passengers when taxi owners arrived. We were parked next to a KFC branch, and they removed us, telling us that the spot belonged to them," Gumede said. "We went and parked across the road. They followed us and kept assaulting us, telling us to leave. All of a sudden, I heard gunshots, and we ran. A bullet hit my car."
Duma praised the joint efforts of the Saps, the Provincial Regulatory Entity and Metro Police in restoring calm, saying their intervention would prevent violent clashes similar to those seen recently in Maponya Mall, Johannesburg.
Authorities are expected to release further details on the arrests. "We will await Lt General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi and his team to provide more information in relation to the following: the type of operation they executed this morning, and the type of criminal offences allegedly committed by suspects," added Duma.
The MEC reiterated government's commitment to finding solutions to ongoing tensions between taxi operators and e-hailing drivers. "We remain committed towards ensuring the co-existence between e-hailing drivers and taxi drivers."
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