Three taxis petrol-bombed amid tensions in Ritchie

MEMBERS of the Ritchie Modder River Taxi Association have condemned the petrol bombing of taxis in Ritchie during the early hours of Tuesday morning.

The association’s Leonard Macoby said three taxi owners had lost their livelihoods after their vehicles were torched.

“Thankfully, no one was injured. Taxi owners in Ritchie pay cash for their minibuses and cannot afford insurance because their income is too low. These families are now destitute, as the taxi owners will not be able to provide for their families. A Quantum bus costs at least R450,000,” he said.

He stated that incidents of this nature were common before the election of executive members of the taxi association.

“Four years ago, acid was thrown inside my taxi, and a taxi owner in Ritchie was shot dead. No arrests were made and the cases were closed. We need the Organised Crime Unit to investigate these incidents. Ritchie is small, but the crimes are huge. Specialised skills are needed to solve these incidents because the lives of taxi owners and their families are in danger.”

Macoby added that the taxi association had been placed under administration.

“It is strange that the vehicles were set alight shortly after we requested the financial reports to be made available,” he said.

Northern Cape SAPS spokesperson Sergeant Merapelo Pilane said police in Modderrivier were investigating separate incidents of malicious damage to property.

“Preliminary investigations indicate that during the early hours of October 21, several taxi owners residing in Modderrivier discovered that their taxis had been set alight. The motive for the damage to the vehicles is under investigation,” Pilane said.

He urged anyone with information that could assist the investigation to report it anonymously via the MySAPS app or the Crime Stop number 08600 10111.