Lentswe, Klerksdorp - A confrontation between taxi drivers and members of Klerksdorp SAPS last week, caused traffic delays on the N12 through town. It all started when a tambaai driver went to the police station on Thursday morning May 9 to report an assault and when the police officers arrived at the taxi rank to attend to the complaint.
According to Brig Sabatha Mokgwabone, police spokesperson, the police officers were assaulted in the process of carrying out an arrest. “During the scuffle where the aggressors took the police vehicle’s key, a man was shot on the leg. The police vehicle was blocked from leaving the taxi rank and the police officers were assaulted. When back-up arrived, taxi drivers used taxis to block the N12.’’
While the injured were taken to hospital, a section of the N12 was closed as well as Roderick Campbell Street and members of public order policing were called in to address the situation. The road was opened for traffic later that morning. Police officers opened three counts of assault and robbery. Two counts of attempted murder were opened against the police officers. These cases are investigated by IPID.
No arrest has been made so far and investigations are underway.
