ZIWAPHI • VOL 4 NO 1 • 15-28 JANUARY 2010

“Police used rubber bullets,” commuter

MBOMBELA

A heated dispute between two Mpumalanga taxi associations left thousands of commuters stranded on Tuesday.

Speaking on behalf of Nelspruit taxi drivers, December Lukhele said the dispute broke out after drivers from the KaBokweni Taxi Association demanded that they be allowed to travel on Top Star Taxi Association’s long-distance route to Johannesburg.

The Nelspruit Plaza Taxi Rank, which was recently overhauled to provide facilities for the 2010 Fifa World Cup, turned into chaos within minutes as drivers threw rocks and other projectiles at each other at about 8am.

Members from the nearby Nelspruit Police Station responded by firing rubber bullets into the crowds.

“Many people were injured as the police forced people out of taxis. Rubber bullets were fired at anyone there,” said a commuter who did not want to be named.

All taxis were removed from the rank by the police and it was closed for the rest of the day.

Lukhele said the problem started on Monday morning when Top Star drivers discovered that KaBokweni’s taxis were parked on its lines for ferrying people to Johannesburg.

“Nothing was done to keep peace,” said Lukhele, adding that KaBokweni taxis operated illegally on the route throughout the day.

Lukhele added that Top Star was the only association officially mandated to ferry passengers to Pretoria and Johannesburg from Nelspruit.

Manyovu Mnisi, a member of Top Star’s management, said the two associations had long-standing differences over routes. He accused the police of favouritism.

“Only drivers from our side were attacked by the police,” he said.

According to Superintendent Msebenzi Nzima of the Nelspruit police, a case of assault had been opened against two Top Star association members who allegedly assaulted members of the KaBokweni association.

“Drivers also threw stones at the police and we responded by firing rubber bullets,” said Nzima.

He confirmed that the taxi rank had been officially closed.

“It will only be opened tomorrow after a meeting between the two associations delivers a solution,” he said.

Nzima said no serious injuries had been reported.

By late afternoon, taxis were operating illegally near robots and from corners in different parts of the city.

TAXI WAR STARTS