Germiston taxi drivers arrested for holding Bedfordview bus drivers hostage
The police arrested four taxi drivers from the Greater Germiston Taxi Association for common assault and intimidation.
The Bedfordview SAPS arrested four taxi drivers for common assault and intimidation after a hostage incident against bus drivers on March 6 on Hawley Road next to the licence department.
They appeared in the Germiston Magistrate’s Court on Friday, where the court granted them bail.
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Police spokesperson Lillian Mogida told Bedfordview and Edenvale News that at about 17:30, Public Transport Intervention Unit of Roads and Transport officers, under the command of Superintendent Mahlwele, were alerted to the incident.
“Officials were called to attend to an incident where Greater Germiston Taxi Association (GGTA) members held bus drivers against their will. Upon arrival, the unit found two buses and taxi squad cars.
“The bus drivers said the taxi drivers and other GGTA members held them hostage, assaulted them and threatened to kill them,” explained Modiga.
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Two complainants identified the suspects.
This follows the Ekurhuleni taxi strike that started on March 6 and intensified the next day, when hundreds of commuters were left stranded at various taxi ranks.
