MPUMALANGA police are investigating a case of murder with three counts of attempted murder and malicious property damage.
This comes after a 41-year-old taxi driver was shot and killed on Tuesday, 28 March.
Two other drivers and a civilian got injured in the alleged taxi violence on Tuesday, 28 March.
According to the police spokesman Brigadier Selvy Mohlala, the taxi violence happened at about 10 am at Oakley, Mkhuhlu, near Bushbuckridge.
He said the shot taxi driver later succumbed to his injuries at Matikwana hospital.
“Two other taxi operators were shot but only sustained some injuries whilst a member of the public sustained some injuries after being shot as well during this incident,” Mohlala said.
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He said about 15 minibuses got damaged from their windows and tyres.
Mohlala said the damage to the mini busses in the morning was just the beginning, as another kombi was set alight at Hlalakahle in Mkhuhlu in the evening of the same day.
According to Mohlala, information revealed that a dispute between members of taxi associations in the area led to the alleged crossfire among taxi operators.
“Unfortunately, life has already been lost whilst others survived the shooting, with scores of kombis damaged. The matter was elevated to the Police in Calcutta after the death of the taxi driver in hospital,” he said.
Mohlala added:
It is further alleged that several shots were shot at the house of the taxi operator with one shot damaging a bedroom window. Fortunately, there was no loss of life during the incident.
No one has been arrested concerning this incident, and police are continuing with their investigation.
He said Mpumalanga police, in collaboration with other government agencies, including the Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison (DCSSL), Transport Inspectorate and other relevant stakeholders, have called for calm and are on high alert.
