Rustenburg – Two people were killed when the taxi in which they were travelling crashed after it had been chased by another taxi, North West Province transport officials said.
A further seven were injured in the incident according to a statement released by the province’s Community Safety and Transport Management MEC Gaoage Molapisi on Friday.
The initial taxi had picked up passenger at a petrol station in the town Setlagole, 75 kilometres west of Mahikeng when the chase ensued along the N18 in the direction of Mahikeng.
The taxi crashed outside Setlagole.
Comment could not immediately be obtained from police and it was not clear what the nature of dispute was between the two taxi drivers.
Molapisi condemned the incident, saying: “We don’t need these kinds of behaviours on our roads, taxi drivers, owners should desist from resolving problems with violence. They must learn the art of engagement, negotiation and conflict resolution. Violence is and will never be the solution to any problem.”
He warned taxi operators and drivers that if the violence did not cease, the government would not hesitate to close down the routes.
ANA