Johannesburg – The situation remains tense and unpredictable in KwaNongoma on the northern KZN with commuters and school pupils fearing for their lives in the ongoing taxi violence that has engulfed the area.
Since last year in November, nine people have lost their lives as taxi warlords have resorted to ambushing their competitors in the comfort of their homes, killing them and their families.
Taxi operator Mzwakhe Mncwango recalls vividly the spine-chilling details of his close contact with death when unknown gunmen masquerading as road construction workers fired a hail of bullets directed at his vehicle in what he believes was a planned hit on his life.
“They were about six of them and dressed in overalls. They pretended to be repairing potholes. Two of the men were manning a go-slow sign and diverting traffic. As I approached closer, they made hand signals for me to stop. I suddenly heard gunshots and out of panic, I drove straight at them. The vehicle lost control and plunged into the nearby sugarcane fields and got trapped inside the fields,” recalls Mncwango.
He told Sunday World that he survived the assassination by running on foot deep inside the sugarcane fields as gunmen armed with automatic rifles were giving chase firing at him.
Mncwango says he was lucky that during the ordeal which lasted about 15 minutes, he was only grazed by two bullets one on his jaw and another one on his shoulder.
The untenable situation has resulted in Police minister Bheki Cele visiting the area hoping that his presence might quell the violence.
“We went there on Saturday and again yesterday to meet with the rival factions. For the longest time, the Nongoma Taxi Association has been one of the problematic taxi associations in the province. During my tenure as MEC for community safety, we were able to bring stability. We have arrested 10 people in connection with the killings,” said Cele.
He said the source of the conflict is apparently linked to the feud over the election of the association leadership as those who had led the association did not want to cede power.
Those who will not accept defeat have resorted to skirmishes hunting down their perceived rivalries and wiping them out through the barrel of a gun.
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