/ 6 September 1999

TAXI VIOLENCE ERUPTS IN MDANTSANE

A TAXI driver was killed, another person wounded, and ten taxis were petrol-bombed on Thursday morning in continued taxi violence at the Mdantsane taxi rank in the Eastern Cape. Police said a driver from the Mdantsane East London Taxi Association, Victor Phamgo,(42) was shot in the chest during the fighting between Melta and the Border Alliance taxi organisation. Phamgo died on arrival at the hospital. Taxi marshal, Hlelo Jawka, (19) was shot in the chest and was taken to Cecilia Makiwane hospital. Two men were arrested and charged with public violence and attempted murder. They will appear in the Mdantsane Magistrate’s Court on Friday. Nine of the burnt taxis belonged to Border Alliance and the other one to Melta. Shots were fired at members of the East London flying squad who were present when the violence started, but they were unharmed.