KZN police accused of taking sides in KwaDukuza taxi war

KwaZulu-Natal law enforcement agencies have been accused of favouring the KwaDukuza Taxi Association in its ongoing war with the KwaMaphumulo Taxi Association.

These details emerged during testimony at the Nkabinde Enquiry, which is probing Advocate Andrew Chauke’s fitness to hold office as the Director of Public Prosecutions for the South Gauteng division.

Taxi boss Siphimandla Mhlongo took the witness stand to testify about his detention by the KZN Cato Manor Organised Crime Unit in 2009.

ALSO READ:

Nkabinde Enquiry hears of plot to kill KwaMaphumulo taxi boss by Cato Manor unit

Nkabinde Commission hears testimony pointing to police brutality from Cato Manor cops

Taxi owner tells Nkabinde Enquiry he's living in fear of KZN police

Nkabinde inquiry: Most killings related to rival KZN taxi associations remain unresolved

Chauke previously prosecuted the Cato Manor squad cases, which were later thrown out of court.

KwaMaphumulo Taxi Association chairperson Siphamandla Mhlongo told the commission he feared that law enforcement authorities might repeat the actions of the Cato Manor squad.

He said recent actions by the police and the Department of Transport reminded him of the time he was in detention.

"There is a unit that is used called Shanela KZN. Law enforcement from the Department of Transport started impounding our taxis, even the ones that had operating licenses. On the very same day, there was a takedown by the police’s NIU targeting members of KwaMaphumulo, and they were detained without a charge," said Mhlongo.

He added that while KwaMaphumulo’s vehicles were stopped from operating, KwaDukuza took over the route.

"For me, that means there was a really coordinated move in order to threaten us to surrender this route, and the police were used in order to assist KwaDukuza to achieve what they wanted to advance," he said.

Both the police and the Transport Department said they would not be commenting on matters currently before the commission.