CAPE TOWN - A Western Cape Cape traffic law enforcement officer saved his life from a ruthless taxi driver who allegedly attempted to knock him down by firing shots at the wheels of the taxi, forcing it to stop.
This was one of three taxi-related violent incidents that happened at the weekend during a joint operation by provincial traffic law enforcement and police on the closed B97 route between Bellville and Mbekweni.
Transport and Public Works MEC Daylin Mitchell terminated operations on the connected route from July 26 in an effort to quell the violence between feuding operators aligned to the Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association (Cata) and the Congress of Democratic Taxi Association (Codeta).
According to Mitchell, during the impoundment some taxi drivers blocked the road in an attempt to stop the operation.
Seven taxis were impounded and three taxi operators arrested.
A taxi driver was charged for attempted murder after allegedly driving straight towards a traffic officer with the intention of knocking him over.
Another was charged with assault of a traffic officer and the third taxi operator was charged with interfering with the execution of a law enforcement officer while exercising his duty.
“While there has subsequently been relative calm between the two taxi associations that are contesting the route, processes and joint operations have been put in place by an inter-governmental group led by the SAPS and my department to ensure that the agreement signed by the parties is monitored and that the closure is strictly enforced,” said Mitchell.
The formal arbitration process to determine who has rights to operate on Route B97 and other contentious routes in the area is nearing completion, with the last hearing having been conducted on October 8.
The arbitrator is now preparing her findings and recommendations for publishing in early November.
“We will not tolerate illegal operations on this closed route. Nor will we tolerate attacks on our officers, who are doing their jobs in enforcing this closure. The law will be upheld, and those who break it will be held accountable,” Mitchell added.
Cape Times