Durban shooting over taxi route - report

2013-02-20 19:34

Durban - A man and a woman were shot dead, one person was critically wounded and two were slightly hurt in a shooting in Durban on Wednesday, paramedics said.

Netcare 911 spokesperson Chris Botha said this happened at the intersection of Pixley ka Seme Street and Williams Road in central Durban.

He said the wounded were treated at the scene and were taken to Addington Hospital.

Police spokesperson Captain Thulani Zwane confirmed the deaths.

"Three [people] were arrested on the scene," he said.

He said investigations were still underway.

Provincial transport spokesperson Kwanele Ncalane said it was alleged the shoot-out ensued over a taxi route between Durban and the Eastern Cape.

"The two Eastern Cape-based associations, Border Taxi Association and Ncedo, are believed to have long history of dispute over this taxi route," Ncalane said.

He said the shooting happened at an illegally-occupied taxi rank, which Transport MEC Willies Mchunu had directed to be shut down by the eThekwini municipality.

The taxi rank last operated on 22 December, after which the city withdrew its authority to operate.

"Despite the withdrawal, these association came on Wednesday morning and started operating illegally," Ncalane said.

Mchunu said the shooting was unfortunate and unacceptable.

"It is unacceptable that people can attack and kill others in broad daylight, endangering the lives of commuters," he said.

Mchunu said his department was trying to resolve the matter with the Eastern Cape department of transport.

"Police have also assured us that the taxi violence task team was in charge of monitoring the situation, and we hope the situation will normalise," he said.

- SAPA