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CHAOS ensued in the early hours of the morning on Friday at the CBD as taxi drivers and members allegedly burned the belongings of vagrants believed to be whoonga addicts.
According to onlookers who wished to remain anonymous, the taxi operators were fed up with the beggars who they accused of harassing their customers and committing crimes in that area.
“It was complete mayhem. Some of the taxi operators started burning their things from as early as 8. 30 am. Everywhere the beggars moved they were eventually chased away,” said one man.
It is believed that taxi drivers gathered for a short meeting in the morning and once done went to nearby shops to purchase weapons to charge at the whoonga addicts.
Bheki Sokhela, the chairperson for the South African National Taxi Council (Santaco), said that he was not aware of the incident when asked for comment but said that there had been various complaints from the Retief Street Rank taxi operators.
“We have raised various issues regarding the taxi rank there, especially the public toilets which are occupied by vagrants day and night as well as the tavern there, to the municipality. People are afraid to go there which is affecting our business,” said Sokhela.
Police were on the scene to negate violence and calm the scene down.
