FOUR minibus taxis have been set alight in Joburg CBD on Saturday morning.
This was allegedly due to the ongoing taxi conflict between Soweto-based taxi associations Nanduwe and Wata.
This appeared to be different to the events that took place in Gqeberha this week, where taxis were set alight after clashes with drivers and local business owners.
The conflict culminated from tensions over routes between the two associations and according to the police, two drivers were allegedly assaulted.
Gauteng police Brigadier Brenda Muridili confirmed that four taxis had been set alight and six damaged.
“No injuries were reported nor any arrests yet made. A case of malicious damage to property has been opened, and the taxi violence team, under the provincial investigative unit, will investigate the case,” she said in a statement.
She added that the police had been deployed to monitor the situation.
The violence has also caught the attention of Gauteng MEC for Public Transport and Roads Infrastructure Jacob Mamabolo, who strongly condemned it.
“We condemn these acts of violence between Wata and Nanduwe as they undermine the work our department, together with the taxi industry, has been doing to stabilise the province. We call on law enforcement to swiftly deal with those behind it,” Mamabolo said in a statement.
“We call on the taxi industry to refrain from violence. Its leadership should take responsibility and end this,” he added.
Mamabolo said the province had been experiencing calm due to platforms that were put in place to deal with matters of contention within the industry.
“We have always advocated for negotiations as a way of dealing with conflicts among taxi associations. Days of solving conflict through violence are behind us. This is the reason why I’m disappointed with the associations involved.”