Byline: Refeloe Letsoisa
19 November 2023
Intolerance, which is believed to emanate from misunderstandings between taxi associations and truck operators, nearly claimed one life and resulted in two taxi patrol vehicles and two trucks being torched in Komatipoort on Friday, 17 November 2023 and Saturday, 18 November 2023 morning respectively.
The incident came as a result of dissatisfaction by the truck operators about the services at the border post, to which taxi operators responded following the blockade on the national road.
A confrontation ensued between the two parties.
It is alleged that during that confrontation, a firearm was discharged, injuring one of the truck drivers, who was immediately rushed to the hospital for medical attention.
In retaliation, it is alleged that truck drivers torched two vehicles belonging to the association at about 07h30.
A case of attempted murder was reported at Komatipoort SAPS, while there was no formal case yet reported for malicious damage to property following the damaged taxi patrol vehicles.
Police in Komatipoort registered a public violence report.
In the early hours of Saturday morning, 18 November 2023 at about 01h30, two trucks were torched, and a case of malicious damage to the property was registered.
Investigations into the incidents have since been launched.
The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela, condemned the acts of violence and requested that the involved parties bring the relevant departments on board to come up with an amicable solution.
“We cannot allow a situation where people’s lives are at stake when there are possible solutions,” warned the general.
