Durban - Twelve men arrested in connection with a Durban taxi rank shooting that claimed the lives of three people were not members of either of the two rival taxi associations and only returned fire in self defence, the Durban Magistrate’s Court hear on Wednesday.
According to the affidavit of William Kunene, that was read into evidence by lawyer Jimmy Howse, the 11 men, bodyguards from the Zamokuhle Long Distance Taxi Association, mistakenly opened fire on 12 men who were attending a meeting of the Berea Long Distance Taxi Association on September 16.
Eleven of the 12 men face three charges of murder, two of attempted murder and one of public violence and are seeking to be released on bail.
A security guard, a bystander and one of the men believed to be a guard for the Zamokuhle association were killed in the shoot out.
Zamokuhle and the Sonke Long Distance Taxi Association have been in a dispute over the route between Port Shepstone and the Brook Street taxi rank in Durban near the Berea Road station.
Kunene claimed in his affidavit that 10 of the 11 accused were taxi owners and bodyguards of the Berea association who also operated from the rank. The eleventh person was a taxi driver who was arrested at the scene. He was allegedly hiding in his taxi at the taxi rank when the shooting began.
“The allegation is that we are members of the Sonke Long Distance Taxi Association. Neither I or any of my co-accused are members of Sonke,” Kunene’s affidavit read.
Kunene claimed that after watching operations at the taxi rank, the eleven proceeded to an office at the rank on the first floor, where they waited for the taxi rank manager to bring them the keys.
It was at this stage that they found themselves surrounded by the bodyguards from Zamokuhle who ordered them to leave.
Kunene said that at the time he believed the Zamokuhle bodyguards had become concerned that the men would pose a threat as they were on the first floor and held an advantageous position.
It was at this time that a shot was fired and struck the twelfth man Thokozani Sikhakhane in the buttocks.
Kunene claimed that they had called police once the shooting started.
Howse started reading the affidavits of some of the accused into the record when proceedings were adjourned for the lunch break. Their affidavits confirmed the details of Kunene’s affidavit and also confirmed that they are not members of the Sonke Longe Distance Taxi association.
Apart from 50-year-old Kunene, the other accused are Hezekiah Masiteng, 46, Xolani Mhlongo, 43, Vusi Ngubane, 39, Sibongiseni Khanyile, 28, Lucas Hlenti, 43, Brett Rayner, Thulani Dyanti, Mandla Nkosi, Mhlabunzima Gasa and Mfundo Gcaba.
Prosecutor Khumba Shazi told Magistrate Phumlani Bhengu that charges had been withdrawn against Sikhakhane as he was still in high care for the wounds he had sustained in the shoot-out.
The bail hearing continues.
ANA