Two other men were wounded during the incident at a city taxi rank
A TEENAGER made a brief appearance in the Kimberley Magistrate’s Court on Thursday on charges of murder and attempted murder following an incident at the Indian Centre Long-Distance Taxi Rank.
James Dikoanga, 19, was arrested on the scene on Tuesday after allegedly fatally stabbing taxi driver Ernest Moroke, 39, and wounding Riet Modisapudi and Louise Minor.
The alleged stabbing incident happened at around 8.15pm, after an argument reportedly broke out between three of the men.
It was also reported that Dikoanga had to be “rescued” after local taxi operators decided to take the law into their own hands.
Both stabbing victims and the suspect are originally from Platfontein while the deceased is from Taung.
It is believed that the taxi driver, Moroke, was stabbed when he tried to intervene in the argument.
One of the victims, Modisapudi, had to undergo surgery on Thursday at a Kimberley hospital while the other was treated for minor injuries.
Police spokesperson Captain Tessa Jansen said the police were called to the taxi rank after a stabbing took place.
She said the police found three men with stab wounds, one of whom was declared dead on the scene while the others were taken to hospital for treatment.
“Upon interviewing bystanders, the police were told that three men, who seem to know each other, got into an argument in a taxi from Limpopo,” said Jansen.
“When they reached the Indian Centre in Pniel Street the argument became heated and one of them pulled a knife and stabbed one of the men in the upper left side and head. He also stabbed the other man, who sustained minor injuries.
“A taxi driver from Taung intervened and was also stabbed and died on the scene.”
Dikoanga will remain in police custody until his next court appearance on 24 February.
