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Taxi association condemns fatal chase on R61 as names of victims are released

Accident scene near the Msawawa locality in Ngcobo

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Police have identified the victims in Tuesday's horror accident just outside Ngcobo on the R61.

The three men and a woman were killed when the Toyota Avanza they were travelling in was allegedly chased by a driver from the local taxi association shortly after it picked up hitchhikers.

This seemed to have upset the taxi association which resulted in the fatal chase.

The Avanza fled in the direction of Mthatha and collided head-on with an oncoming Ford LDV on a bend in the road.

Police spokesperson Captain Lariane Jonker identified the victims as the 31-year-old Siphamandla Lumkwana, 41-year-old Andile Yose, 56-year-old Lindiwe Meyi and 61-year-old Mlindeli Majija.

She says they were all passengers in the Avanza.

Other passengers, including one in from the LDV, are in hospital being treated for various injuries.

Algoa FM News approached the South African National Taxi Council's (SANTACO) Provincial spokesperson, Zola Yolelo, who condemned the incident.

In the comment section on the Algoa FM News Facebook page, several listeners described similar experiences where taxi drivers would either chase them or force them out of vehicles.

One listener said she was ordered to pay a fine of R2 000 and threatened that her keys would be taken.

Another listener concurred stating that drivers from the taxi association threatened to steal the disc of his car resulting in him begging his passengers to get out of his vehicle.

SANTACO's Yolela appealed to the public and taxi operators to use taxi stations at all costs to protect the interest of their passengers.

He said if there are concerns of taxi's not being registered, the number plate could be taken to report the driver at his office.

No arrests have been made.