Shots were reportedly fired between taxi and e-hailing taxis at Town Centre in Eastridge, Mitchells Plain yesterday (30 June).

Social media and crime-watch groups shared several alerts and videos of a conflict at the rank behind the Traffic Department.

According to the alerts, shots were fired when minibus-taxi drivers confronted e-hailing drivers for allegedly stealing their business.

A video of the scene, which was shared on social media, showed several police vans on the scene and people running.

Police and the local community policing forum could not confirm whether shots were fired.

Captain FC van Wyk said that police were on the scene from 12:00 to 16:00, and were continuing to patrol the area.

“The dispute between the minibus taxi drivers and e-hailing drivers stems from the e-hailing drivers offering services to clients. The minibus-taxi drivers perceive this as poaching/interception of clients. A fight broke out, but order was restored when members attended to the complaint.”

He said no cases had been opened.

Not related to March to March

Several commentators on social media thought the violence was related to anti-immigrant marches that were taking place on the day, but Van Wyk said in response: “It needs to be stated that the altercation at the taxi rank on Tuesday was not because of the current anti-immigrant sentiment.”

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