Police shoot dead 4 Secunda taxi drivers

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Police shoot dead 4 Secunda taxi drivers
BROUGHT DOWN: The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) is investigating charges of murder after police gunned down four Taxi Drivers in Secunda. PICTURE BY News24

They were clashing over issues of a bus company.


The police in Secunda have allegedly killed 4 taxi drivers while clashing over a bus company monopolising the industry, News24 reports.

Two of the drivers died instantly on the scene and the other two in hospital.

Representatives at Vukanini Taxi Association said they want justice and have already opened a case with police watchdog, the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID).

Six other taxi drivers are said to be having bad injuries after they were apparently shot at by police.

IPID spokesman Sontaga Seisa told News24 that there were other unverified versions that suggest that taxi drivers themselves could have discharged firearms during the clash with cops in eMbalenhle township.

He said they are investigating cases of murder and attempted murder. 

“This is a developing story that certain allegations might change as new information is received and verified,” he said. 

Vukanini Taxi Association chairman Fanyana Sibanyoni said their members were killed Apartheid-style.

He said the killings were sparked by their ongoing disagreement with passenger bus company Megabus, which is operating in various parts of Secunda and which has been increasing their buses in the area, despite their agreement five years ago that it would only operate with 110 buses, and leave space for taxis.

“Since the company is getting subsidy from the provincial government, it wanted to use that as an opportunity to kill the taxi business here in Secunda. Some of their passengers, including school children, ride for free because of government subsidy.

“The company later added 59 more buses to increase their fleet to 169. With such a number of buses operating in our area, there is no way that we were going to earn a living and our vehicles were going to to repossessed and drivers being unemployed,” he said.

(edited by MLM)

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