KZN Taxi Conflict Explodes Again As Police Find Over 50 Bullet Casings

Police recover more than 50 cartridges after a shootout linked to rival taxi associations in KwaDukuza and Maphumulo, reigniting a 40-year conflict.

Violence linked to rival taxi associations in KwaZulu-Natal has resurfaced after a gun battle left dozens of spent cartridges scattered at a crime scene.

Police confirmed that more than 50 cartridges were collected following a shootout involving security personnel linked to the KwaDukuza and Maphumulo taxi associations on Friday.

Authorities say the incident is the latest flare-up in a decades-long conflict between the two groups over transport routes.

Police Recover Dozens Of Cartridges After KZN Taxi Association Shootout

Law enforcement officials responding to the scene discovered a large number of spent bullet casings after the exchange of gunfire.

Police said over 50 cartridges were recovered where the shootout took place between security teams representing the rival taxi associations.

The confrontation has renewed concerns about ongoing violence tied to disputes over taxi routes in the area.

Despite the intensity of the gunfire, authorities confirmed that no injuries were reported during the incident.

40-Year Taxi Rivalry Continues To Fuel Violence

The KwaDukuza and Maphumulo taxi associations have been locked in a bitter dispute for decades.

The conflict, which has stretched back roughly 40 years, has claimed numerous lives over time and repeatedly drawn the attention of law enforcement.

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Friday’s shooting has once again raised alarm among authorities, who fear the rivalry could trigger further violence if not contained.

Officials say tensions between the associations remain centred around disagreements over operating routes.

Police Commissioner Condemns ‘Wild West’ Gunfire

KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi criticised the brazen nature of the shootout and said police could not ignore the situation.

“When people are shooting at each other in an open area like that, behaving like they are in a wild west, it is a concern. We are fortunate that no one was injured incident but over 50 cartridges were picked up after the shooting that happened yesterday between the two taxi rivals so that is why we are here.”

Investigators have since taken more than 25 firearms for ballistic testing as part of efforts to determine who was responsible for the gunfire.

Police say the forensic analysis will help link weapons to the cartridges recovered at the scene as the investigation continues.