Gauteng Transport MEC Ismail Vadi says he cannot guarantee the re-opening of the local taxi rank in the Tsakane-Brakpan area any time soon.
He ordered the immediate closure of the Tsakane Taxi rank east of Johannesburg following the murder of four taxi drivers on Wednesday.
Six others were wounded.
Police arrested eight security guards in connection with the shooting. About 10 firearms have also been recovered.
Vadi says the taxi rank will only be re-opened after stakeholders in the taxi industry ensure an end to the violence.
He says the drivers and owners have assured them that there wouldn’t be any further violence, but at this stage it is difficult to believe that.
“We have to meet with them either today, or first thing tomorrow, but the situation has to be normalised… otherwise I’m forced to shut down the rank, and we do that really for the public’s interest, for the safety of the commuters, the safety of other taxi drivers and ordinary members of the community,” says Vadi.
SABC reporter, Chriselda Lewis gives the latest below:
