A deadly confrontation erupted in the small Eastern Cape town of Port St Johns, leaving multiple people dead in a taxi-related mass shooting.
Port St Johns taxi mass shooting claims multiple lives
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The incident, which took place on Tuesday, saw rival taxi gangs engage in a violent exchange at the local taxi rank.
Eyewitness accounts describe a chaotic scene as gunmen, arriving in four different vehicles, opened fire on members of the opposing taxi gang.
The shootout led to the death of multiple taxi operators, while several vehicles, including two near a KFC outlet and one adjacent to a health centre, were set ablaze.
While reports suggest at least 19 victims were gunned down in the Port St Johns mass shooting, these figures have yet to be confirmed by authorities.
The Eastern Cape’s Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Nomthetheleli Mene, has called for peace and cooperation between the feuding taxi associations operating in the Lusikisiki/Port St Johns areas.
“Such lawlessness will not be tolerated as innocent lives are at risk. We immediately call on all stakeholders to come forward and engage in constructive discussions and urgently find a solution so as to avoid further loss of lives,” Lt-Gen Mene said.
Tuesday’s mass shooting, reportedly caused by ongoing disagreements between the associations, resulted in not only the fatalities but also left five others wounded. Disturbingly, an 11-year-old boy was hit by a stray bullet and is currently receiving treatment in a hospital.
Sakhiwo Lusiba, spokesperson for the PSJ Border Alliance Taxi Association, expressed shock and urged for the law to take its course.
“We want peace and we want people that are involved in this. The law must take its course,” he stated.
When this article was published, at least nine suspects were in custody for crimes related to the taxi violence and police had deployed several units to monitor law and order in the region.
These were the harrowing scenes that unfolded in Port St Johns on Tuesday: