Public Order Police were called into Elsies River yesterday as angry residents pelted taxi drivers with bricks after a nine-year-old boy was hit by a taxi driver.
Traffic cops closed off 35th Street after angry residents went on a rampage stoning any taxi passing through the main arterial road after a pupil from Balvenie Primary School was hit by the driver who was allegedly speeding and overtook other vehicles in the yellow lane.
Eleen January from the Elsies River Neighbourhood Watch says shots were fired as taxi drivers tried to defend themselves.
“The boy crossed the road from Connaught Estate to Elsies to go to school when the taxi came and hit him. His left leg was stuck and the driver still drove over his leg,” she says.
“He stayed on the scene, but the community became kwaad and started attacking him and that is when Law Enforcement came.
“The paramedics came to assist the boy and there was a lot of blood.
“They took him and his parents to hospital, but the community was very upset and put big rocks in the road to stop taxi drivers from driving in the yellow lane.
“Two taxis even smashed into each other as the mense threw bricks [at them].”
Law Enforcement spokesperson Wayne Dyason explains: “The driver wanted to flee but the community blocked him and became riotous.
“After that any Quantum that passed through was stoned and the surrounding streets were closed.
“Later three Quantums arrived on the scene and shots were fired from one of the taxis.”
Police spokesperson Sergeant Noloyiso Rwexana says cases of reckless and negligent driving as well as public violence were opened after the incident.
monique.duval@inl.co.za