Government calls for calm following drive-by shooting in Mthatha

22 Jul 2016 | Admin Author

Government is calling for calm, following Thursday night's slaying of three people in a drive-by shooting at the Corona taxi rank in Mthatha.

The victims were a man and two women. Fifteen people were wounded when gunmen in opened fire at around six in the evening.

Police spokesperson, Lieutenant-Colonel Mzukisi Fatyela, says arrests are expected soon.

The Deputy Minister of Communications, Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams, says she's shocked and concerned by the violent actions being perpetrated by taxi drivers operating between Mthatha and Libode.

"We are informed that they are doing this because they are fighting about a particular route. We want to plead with them to make sure that they use no violence in our country, because as Government we are trying everything to create platforms where people can raise their concerns and try to find solutions. If they cannot find solutions on their own they must allow us to intervene to become the neutral party in whatever is happening"

She says if taxi associations cannot resolve their differences, government may have to step in to protect citizens.She says even though they would not be able to follow every single taxi driver, police will have to deployed on the roads to protect the public.