/ 4 July 2005

Police mediate between KZN taxi associations

A taxi driver from the Dolphin Coast Taxi Association was shot dead at Shakaskraal on the KwaZulu-Natal north coast, South African Broadcasting Corporation news said on Monday.

Earlier reports said no one had been injured.

According to the report, police said the incident was not related to a resurgence of taxi feuds on the north coast.

Meanwhile, police are mediating between two rival taxi associations at Umhlali near Stanger.

The leadership of the KwaMaphumulo and Stanger taxi associations are meeting behind closed with the police to try to break an impasse.

Three people were killed in two separate incidents related to taxi violence at Darnall at the weekend. Four others were critically wounded.

One person was killed and another seriously injured on the N2 at Umvoti Plaza, also on the north coast.

Inquiry continues in Western Cape

Meanwhile, the death of a former taxi boss will not deter a Western Cape commission of inquiry into taxi violence and its work will continue, the commission chairperson said on Monday.

Advocate Dumisa Ntsebeza assured media at a briefing that the commission will ”finish our mandate” and make available a report around August 8.

His comments followed the death a few days ago of Michael Kupiso, who was gunned down in his Khayelitsha home after lifting the lid on the underworld of taxi operations in the Western Cape.

”There is already speculation that possibly links his murder with the testimony that he gave at the hearing,” said Ntsebeza.

Ntsebeza said in discussions with authorities he was told that no stone would be left unturned in bringing the culprits to book.

Ntsebeza said no member of the commission, including himself, has received any threats related to the work done and no ”extraordinary” measures will now be taken to secure their persons.

The commission was established this year by Premier Ebrahim Rasool following renewed violence between warring taxi factions in the Western Cape that left several dead.

During his testimony, Kupiso alleged that leaders of the taxi industry’s so-called ”Big Eight” had instructed hit men to eliminate rivals.

Kupiso was a former leader of the Congress of Democratic Taxi Associations, which has been at loggerheads with the Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association. — Sapa