EMPD urge taxi commuters to be vigilant
Members of the community and taxi commuters, are advised to be alert at all times and are requested to report any criminal activity to the nearest EMPD precinct, police station or to dial 08600 10111 or 112 from a cellphone so that these lawbreakers can be brought to book.
Kwatsaduza – The EMPD has been inundated with reports of taxi commuters being robbed in and around the City of Ekurhuleni.
According to EMPD spokesperson Kobeli Mokheseng, a woman in her 20s was robbed on January 23 while travelling in a taxi with five male occupants in Dinwiddie.
The incident took place at 2pm after the victim boarded a white Toyota Quantum minibus with five male occupants on Blackreef Road between De Beer and Kasteel roads, next to the Reef Shopping Mall.
“The occupants pulled out a knife and firearm and started assaulting her.
“She was robbed of her jewellery, cellphone and purse, which contained R450 cash.
“A banking app on her cellphone was accessed and R1 000 was immediately transferred before she was dropped off injured and disoriented after two hours on the side of the roadway in the Primrose area.
“A good Samaritan came to her aid and they proceeded to the nearest police station. Paramedics were summoned and she was rushed to the nearest hospital for medical treatment,” he explained.
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Mokheseng added the victim later learned her second bank account had been accessed and the criminals went on a shopping spree, wasting almost R10 000.
“This is suspected to be a syndicate of thugs, since cash disappears following the ordeal, even when you are in possession of your bank cards,” he said.
In another incident on February 5 at 1.45pm in the Katlehong area, a man in his 30s boarded a taxi from Sontonga Road next to the Caltex filling station, destined for Germiston, when thugs in a white Toyota Quantum minibus taxi used the same modus-operandi.
He added the SAPS, EMPD Taxi Task Team and other law enforcers are investigating.
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Members of the community and taxi commuters, are advised to be alert at all times and are requested to report any criminal activity to the nearest EMPD precinct, police station or to dial 08600 10111 or 112 from a cellphone so that these lawbreakers can be brought to book.
