ALL shops are closed, and Port St Johns town is empty after gunmen stormed the CBD and killed three people as the taxi feud intensifies.
The shooting that brought the entire town to a standstill happened at Port St Johns taxi rank on Tuesday, 16 January.
It's alleged that taxi operators from Ncedo Taxi Association from Lisikisiki barged into the rank, which is mostly run by Border Alliance Taxi Association in the CBD and fired shots.
The shooting claimed the lives of three security guards from the Ncedo association.
Police spokeswoman Colonel Priscilla Naidu confirmed the incident, adding that five other people from the Port St Johns side sustained gunshot wounds.
An 11-year-old boy was hit by a stray bullet and taken to hospital for treatment.
Three vehicles were torched.
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“Preliminary reports indicate that on Tuesday, 16 January, two taxi associations were engaged in a shoot-out at the Port St Johns taxi rank. Multi-disciplinary forces are on the ground. Nine suspects have been arrested. Police will remain in the area until the situation stabilises," Naidu said.
Th e incident follows the shooting of three taxi operators who were killed execution-style on 10 January.
Port St Johns Taxi Association secretary Sakhile Lusiba told the SABC that the fighting between the two taxi associations is over the Mthabambalala route.
“The two associations had met and spoke about ending the violence but that didn’t yield any results. Now we want authorities to come to Port St Johns and mediate between the two associations and resolve this," said Lusiba.
Provincial police commissioner Lieutenant-General Nomthetheleli Mene urged the fighting taxi associations to work together and find amicable solutions to their ongoing disagreements to avoid further loss of lives.
Port St Johns municipal spokeswoman Siyamthanda Ford said: “We urge the community to stay away from town until the police confirm the area to be safe.”
