...By Gift BADEWO for TDPel Media.
A taxi driver was allegedly shot dead by a passenger after a heated argument on the N3 southbound near the Brickfield on-ramp while transporting passengers from Pinetown to Durban on April 2, 2023.
According to reports, the driver was in his 30s and was shot multiple times while the taxi was still in motion. No other injuries were reported.
The gunman fled the scene on foot in the direction of Mayville, and police have opened a case of murder.
Taxi Driver Shot Dead in Separate Incident
In a separate incident in Oakley, Mkhuhlu, in the Calcutta near Bushbuckridge, a taxi driver was shot dead while two others were injured along with a public member.
About 15 minibus windows and tyres were reportedly damaged during the incident, and the 16th minibus was torched in the evening of March 28, 2023.
Disputes between members of taxi associations in the area turned violent, leading to the alleged crossfire among taxi operators.
One taxi driver, identified as 41-year-old July Shabangu, was shot and later succumbed to his injuries at Matikwana hospital.
Commentary
These incidents highlight the dangers faced by taxi drivers in South Africa, who have become frequent victims of violence and crime.
The first incident highlights how quickly an argument can turn deadly, and the second incident highlights the need for better management and conflict resolution within the taxi industry.
The high number of minibus windows and tyres damaged during the second incident also highlights the economic costs of such violence.
The police must work to bring the perpetrators of these crimes to justice and take measures to protect taxi drivers and other members of the public from such violence.
