The Provincial Commissioner of the Police in Gauteng, Lieutenant General Elias Mawela has welcomed the arrest of 43 suspects alleged to have been involved in taxi violence-related incidents in Lyttleton policing precinct the past two days. The police seized four firearms and ammunition, six vehicles as well as knopkieries during the arrests.
On 9 February 2022, the police were called to a crime scene at Botha Avenue filling station in Irene where a body of a man was found. Preliminary investigations revealed that the victim was part of two groups that were involved in a fight. The groups are reported to have parked their vehicles, three minibus taxis and a sedan at the filling station before a fight broke. They apparently used stones and knopkieries to attack one another while one of them fired several shots during the altercation.
When police arrived on the scene the people fled in different directions on foot and using their vehicles. Police were told that two people had already been transported to the hospital for medical attention. They are reported to be in stable but critical condition. The body was pointed out to the police by witnesses.
The police, with the assistance of witnesses’ information, immediately traced the alleged shooter to a nearby shopping centre. He was found in possession of a firearm and two rounds of ammunition. He was then placed under arrest and after questioning it was discovered that he is a police sergeant stationed at Sandringham Police Station. The seized firearm’s serial number corresponded with that which was issued by the SAPS to the member.
The case was allocated to the Provincial Taxi Violence combat team for investigation. Working together with members from Lyttelton Police Station, evidence collected suggested that the incident could be linked to the dispute on routes among taxi associations operating in that area.
The Station started implementing its operational plan to combat taxi violence. Visible Policing members from the station were posted for patrols in the precinct on strategic points. Yesterday, 10 February 2022 just after midday, the police responded to information received about a number of taxis seen parking at the corner of Botha Avenue and Alexandra streets.
While the police vehicles were approaching the scene where shots were also reported to have been fired. The minibus taxis drove off in different directions.
One of the responding police vans followed a white minibus taxi that had no registration numbers through Botha Ave and called another police vehicle to block the intersection at Alexander and Jean Avenue streets. Before the vehicle was cornered, occupants in the minibus started shooting at the police and the officers retaliated. This resulted in a tyre of that minibus taxi being shot but the driver continued driving facing oncoming traffic.
The police officers at Alexander and Jean Avenue streets forced the vehicle to stop. Three of the occupants fled on foot but the police pursued them and subsequently found them inside one of the nearby houses. The other two were arrested on the scene. One of the suspects is a police sergeant stationed at SAPS Tembisa.
Meanwhile, the other police vehicles were chasing other minibus taxis and a sedan through the R21 south highway, while calling for backup. Ultimately five minibus taxis and the sedan were stopped near Olifantsfontein off-ramp. The police arrested 37 people.
The vehicles were searched and three firearms with ammunition and knopkieries were recovered. Even though two of the firearms are licensed, they will all be sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory for ballistic testing.
The Provincial Commissioner has welcomed the swift arrests made by the police and he has directed the station commanders where the two police officers are stationed to start with the internal disciplinary processes as required by the SAPS prescripts.
“The swift response by the police is indicative of our endeavours to continue implementing the recommendations by the Judge Shongwe Commission of Enquiry on Taxi Violence in Gauteng. The increase in manpower of the anti-Taxi Violence unit as well as the establishment of the anti-Taxi Violence Combat Teams which are hard at work at all the districts, is starting to yield positive results,” said Lt Gen Mawela.
The 43 suspects will be appearing at the Pretoria Magistrates Court on Monday, 14 February 2022. They are facing charges that include murder, attempted murder, assault GBH, possession of unlicensed firearm and ammunition and public violence.
Gauteng police put measures in place that averted a possible threat of taxi violence in the Lyttelton area, 43 people arrested in separate incidents https://t.co/RZOEsm4YPh #ArriveAlive #TaxiViolence #TrioCrimes @SAPoliceService pic.twitter.com/Hd8GSc0REV
— Arrive Alive (@_ArriveAlive) February 12, 2022