A dramatic and tragic incident erupted at a taxi rank in Ficksburg, Free State, where three men—including a taxi owner—were fatally shot on Wednesday, 28 October.
According to a local driver, the violent exchange began when one of the attackers asked for R2 (South African rand) to buy a cigarette. The victims reportedly said they only had R10. The assailants insisted on the R2, the dispute escalated, and suddenly guns were drawn.
Free State Police Service spokesman Sergeant Mahlomola Kareli confirmed that the three victims were declared dead at the scene. One other person was taken to hospital with critical injuries; another remains in a stable condition. No arrests have yet been made, and police crime‑intelligence teams are actively investigating.
The incident has further raised concerns over the role of suspected unlicensed taxi operators in the area. The Ficksburg Taxi Association (FITA) has pointed to a confrontation with taxi drivers from neighbouring Lesotho as the possible trigger. FITA’s chairman, Sinos Mthimkhulu, claimed that after several stand‑offs with Lesotho‑registered taxis operating within their territory, it is likely that the recent attack is tied to those disputes.
Meanwhile, the region’s Jabu Mbalula, MEC for Community Safety, Roads and Transport, said Ficksburg has become a hotspot for criminal behaviour. He expressed concern about undocumented foreign nationals allegedly crossing into South Africa, facilitating crimes and returning across the border. Mbalula urged law enforcement to “leave no stone unturned” in ensuring all suspects are brought to justice.
In short, what appeared to be a minor conflict over two rand ended in a fatal shooting that underscores deeper tensions in the local taxi industry — and wider issues of licensing, cross‑border operations, and community safety.
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