By Everson Luhanga
Armed taxi owners fighting over a route caused havoc in Kagiso on Wednesday. The men carrying rifles and pistols and wearing bulletproof vests were seen shooting at each other.
They then tried to shoot at the police – but they were arrested.
Spectators say the scene was like a daylight movie that erupted next to the Kagiso Mall.
When the cops arrived at the scene along Kagiso Drive, the occupants of an armoured vehicle jumped out shooting, and ran on foot. They were caught and apprehended.
Gauteng provincial police spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi confirmed the incident.
She said all seized firearms will be subjected to further investigations and ballistic testing to ascertain if they were not used in the commission of other serious and violent crimes.
“All arrested suspects are expected to appear before court soon on charges of attempted murder and discharging of a firearm in a municipal area. Police investigations continue,” she said.
Police fired rubber bullets in a bid to calm the situation. In all, they arrested 13 suspects for taxi violence. Two of them were shot at by a rival group and were taken to hospital for medical attention under police guard.
After the dust settled, police at the scene found seven rifles including AK47s and R5s. Officials also seized 285 live rounds and 12 magazines. Licensed handguns were confiscated for forensic analysis. One firearm was found hidden in the garage of the supermarket.
By Wednesday afternoon, the situation had calmed down, with police patrolling the hotspots.
A taxi war has been brewing for the past few weeks in Kagiso. Last week a taxi marshal and taxi boss were fatally wounded in a hail of bullets.
A driver in the area, who asked not to be named, told Scrolla.Africa that the operators are fighting over the Cradlestone route.
Pictured above: Police seize weapons following the taxi bosses’ shootout.
Image source: Supplied
