Taxi groups plot to kill cops
2003-09-08 23:07
Cape Town - The National Intelligence Agency and the police's unit against serious violent crime are investigating a possible plot to kill traffic officials in Cape Town.
Arguments between taxi groups and the traffic authority have apparently become so serious that plans are allegedly underfoot to assassinate law enforcers in this industry.
Captain Etienne Terblanche, police spokesperson, confirmed that the case is under investigation after a list with at least six names was found.
The traffic officers are all members of the unicity's taxi task team. A highly placed provincial official, whose name also appears on the list, is involved with the issuing of taxi permits.
One taxi owner, who wanted to remain anonymous, said the assassination list was compiled by two fighting taxi associations in the Cape. "They are fighting among themselves, but see the traffic people as mutual enemies."
He said these organisations each had its own mafia that demanded hundreds of thousands of rands from members each month.
"There is a daily fee of R24 for each taxi, plus R100 three times per week and R1 000 on the last Friday of each month. They never say what the money will be used for, but is an open secret that the money is used to finance the continuing taxi war. The money is used to pay assassins and bribe officials."
The taxi owner said disgruntled members of the taxi organisations have been putting pressure on the associations via provincial government to publicise their financial statements.
"However, such records do not exist and now they want to kill the people who are asking for the documentation."
He said the fact that traffic authorities were prosecuting taxi drivers who break the law, has denied these associations an income.
"When they demand money from the drivers, they hear that there is nothing to give because the money has been spent on fines or to release vehicles from the depot."
A confidential e-mail message, which a city official sent to a colleague in the provincial government, confirmed allegations that a senior official is assisting the taxi associations. The e-mail said that content of confidential meetings leaked to the associations before the minutes of the meeting were even typed.
Heathcliff Thomas, co-ordinator of the unicity's traffic services, said on Monday that this allegation was also under investigation. He said everything possible has been done to ensure the safety of the people whose names appear on the list.