In road rage gone horribly wrong, a combi driver has died after days spent in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) following head trauma.

The 35-year-old driver succumbed to his death after sustaining serious head injuries following a bloody fight with an illegal transport operator who had invaded their route.

The bloody incident according to The Monitor sources was caused by a fight over customers. The combi driver, according to eyewitnesses, was trying to stop the illegal transport operator, who are collectively popularly known as ‘bo maphaeratane’ in the vernacular which loosely translated means ‘pirates’, from operating on their route. During the scuffle which turned ugly, the illegal taxi operator took out a bat from his car and attacked the combi driver, beating him to a pulp. After sustaining serious injuries, the combi driver was rushed to hospital and later referred to Princess Marina Referral Hospital. Broadhurst Police Station commander, Obusitswe Lokae confirmed that the combi driver who was admitted to the ICU for about five days succumbed to his injuries on Saturday.

“We received the report of the deadly fight. We have since arrested a young man in connection with the matter and he is currently in custody,” the police boss said. The ‘maphaeratane’ suspect, One Rantabe appeared before a Magistrate’s Court on Friday charged with assault occasioning, now the police confirm that his charge sheet will be amended.

“His next mention was supposed to be December 12, but we will now ask for an earlier date because we have to amend the charge to murder,” the police boss further stated.