Six arrested for taxi violence in Moletlane

Taxi violence- Centre for the study of violence and reconciliation (CSVR) Six suspects aged between 29 and 49 were arrested by the South African Police Service (Saps) Provincial Taxi Violence Unit in Limpopo this week for taxi violence. They were apprehended from the Moletlane area at the DISCO Fourways Taxi Rank on Wednesday, 11 March 2026, in connection with a taxi violence incident where six taxis were damaged and two victims assaulted. During the occurrence, a female passerby was also allegedly assaulted after the suspects had accused her of documenting the attack on her phone and taking pictures.

It is alleged that the incident was related to a taxi association rivalry between two organisations. Members of the Provincial Taxi Violence Unit had conducted a targeted operation on Thursday in the Zebediela and Moletlane policing areas, which ultimately led to the arrest of the six suspects believed to be members of the adversary taxi association. Suspects are expected to appear at the Lebowakgomo Magistrate’s Court on Friday, 13 March 2026.

According to Police reports, the six accused face charges of malicious damage to property and two counts of common assault. Police are still investigating the matter, with more arrests possible. In 2024, Mmakwena Modipa from the University of Pretoria released a critical analysis surrounding taxi violence in South Africa, while pointing out the causes and extent to which these instances occur.

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Despite the industry’s informality, taxis are one of the major modes of the public transport sector, contributing to the country’s economic growth. “Taxi owners organised themselves into associations primarily defined by region and, to a lesser extent, specific routes. Over time, these associations gained power and began fiercely defending their territories.”

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