EDEN PARK – Whenever conflict arises between two rival taxi associations, regardless on what grounds, the bullet always has the final say. Monday November 4 was not different to all other previous conflicts. The gun does the talking and the finger pointing comes later.
Taxi owner David Bougaard (54) of Greater Alberton taxi association and an unidentified member of Katlehong people’s taxi association were shot dead on Monday morning November 4 at the Greenfields taxi rank. A fight over taxi routes has now robbed two families of their breadwinners.
The shooting took place at 05:00. Another two were rushed to hospital.
According to captain Mhlophe of Eden Park police, the conflict between the two associations started on Friday November 1 when he was called to intervene or diffuse a very hostile situation that had developed over the Greenfields to Johannesburg route.
The matter was resolved and the weekend went by peacefully until early Monday Morning when a 04:00 meeting got out of hand. It is alleged by the police that when they arrived at the taxi rank, the shooting had already happened. Members of both associations were summoned to the police station to hand over their guns for ballistic testing and a gun powder residue testing on each one.
The police are investigating a murder case. Will the taxi war ever end… who knows?
