KZN taxi shootout: Associations will be held responsible for further attacks says Mkhwanazi

KwaZulu-Natal Police head Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi said both the KwaDukuza and Maphumulo taxi associations will be held responsible if further deadly shootings break out.

Mkhwanazi addressed members of the rival factions in KwaDukuza earlier on Saturday, following renewed tensions and violence.

The two groups have been locked in a dispute over routes for about 40 years, including routes to Durban and oThongathi.

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He told the attendees that they need come up with a solution that will end the long-standing conflict.

“What we know is that there’s no hitmen that gets up and go shoot - he gets hired by someone and the people who hire the hitmen were in this hall today.”

Mkhwanazi said those responsible for orchestrating the violence are likely within the associations themselves.

He told the taxi bosses attending the meeting that they will be held accountable for any further attacks.

“If there is any incident that happens, they are going to be responsible because they are the ones that are responsible for hiring security, hiring people that are causing the problem and authorising the behaviour out of there.”

The provincial commissioner has urged the warring factions to put their differences aside, vowing that law and order will prevail should the situation escalate.