INLSA

Taxi violence erupted in Imizamo Yethi in Hout Bay yesterday. Photo: Jason Boud

Lauren Isaacs

A PEDESTRIAN was shot in crossfire in Imizamo Yethu, Hout Bay, yesterday as a strike by legal taxi operators against illegal operators turned violent and spilled into the community.

“Shots were fired and a 37-year-old pedestrian sustained a gunshot wound to the head. The victim managed to come down to Hout Bay SAPS where he was taken to hospital,” said police spokesman Frederick van Wyk.

A suspect, 51, was arrested and charges of attempted murder, malicious damage to property, assault and public violence are being investigated, he said.

Metro EMS spokesperson Keri Davids said the pedestrian, who has not yet been named, was admitted to Groote Schuur Hospital.

As of last night he was critical but stable.

More than 50 school children crowded a street at the informal taxi rank where 48 drivers had parked their taxis and refused to operate.

A Hout Bay High pupil, who did not want to be named, said she was worried because her teachers did not understand their “transport situation”. “I have no other way of getting to school and it is too far to walk,” she said.

“I know I am going to be sent to detention tomorrow, and this (situation) isn’t even our fault.”

Other residents affected by the strike emptied their rubbish bins in the middle of the streets.

They also threw shoes, tyres, tree logs, glass bottles and rolled boulders into the street.

Teenage boys walked around with hammers and sjamboks.

This while about 10 police vans patrolled the area.

The provincial government has refused to issue new taxi permits for Hout Bay, and illegal operators have mushroomed in the area.

The Imizamo Yethu Sedan Taxi Association stopped operating yesterday, leaving commuters stranded.

A driver with the association, who asked not to be named, said he and his 47 colleagues were “fed up with amaphela operating in the area”.

Amaphela (cockroaches) is an abusive term for illegal taxi operators using old cars which are often unroadworthy.

He said the windows of a taxi filled with school children were also smashed, traumatising the passengers.

Lunga Vellem who has been a driver and member of the Imizamo Yethu Sedan Taxi Association for 15 years, said, “We operate on a local route, Hout Bay to Llandudno and to Wynberg every day. About two years ago, 10 other residents of Imizamo Yethu started a second association.

“They were stealing our business.

“We met the city (council) and decided that if the new guys wanted to drive they had to join our association. Only seven did, but the remaining three recruited more drivers from the area.”

Vellem alleged that several of the newly recruited drivers did not have permits or driving licences.

“We won’t operate until they get off the road. They are stealing our business and they are not even permitted to carry passengers,” said Vellem.

Transport and Public Works MEC Robin Carlisle’s spokesman, Steven Otter, said he condemned the violence and vowed no new permits would be issued to those who used violence.

He also said the area already had too many taxis.

lauren.isaacs@inl.co.za