Police Minister Bheki Cele has announced the immediate and indefinite closure of major taxi routes in Mthatha and surrounding areas‚ due to ongoing conflict that has resulted in the killing of more than 60 people since it erupted in 2016. The affected routes are the R61 and the N2 junction to Maclear and Tsolo respectively‚ his office said in a statement. "The selfishness of the taxi industry must be cut to zero‚ we cannot continue to count dead bodies like a taxi load‚" said Cele. "Sixty people is a big number‚ the killings must be eradicated … The routes belong to the citizens of this country and are not to be manipulated by taxi bosses for selfish financial gains‚" Cele said. The shutdown of the routes follows several interventions‚ including the signing of peace accord‚ facilitated by the provincial government to bring peace to the rival associations. "All interventions to date have failed dismally‚ hence the police minister has taken drastic measures in stamping the authority o...
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