Edleen resident threatened with gun, baton by taxi drivers

An Edleen resident was threatened with violence twice in as many days by taxi drivers disobeying traffic rules.

On October 1, a gun was put to the head of Bernard van der Berg (39) and the next day he was threatened with a baton.

The Modderhill Road resident says this ongoing problem mainly occurs during peak hours. Taxis coming towards town on CR Swart Drive refuse to wait in queues at the intersection at Green Avenue and then slip onto Modderhill Road, which runs parallel to CR Swart Drive, driving into oncoming traffic. Modderhill Road is a one-way.

“Taxi drivers are so used to cars moving out of the way for them so they can break the law. I refused to move and the taxi driver stepped out of his vehicle and held a gun to my head so I would move,” said Van der Berg.

There was an argument between the two motorists and because Van der Berg feared for his life, he moved out of the way for the taxi to pass.

The next day another taxi driver was doing the same thing.

“Again, I refused to move from where I was because I was correct. He stepped out of his taxi with a baton and tried to hit my bakkie with it,” he continued.

“This is a clear threat to me and my family’s lives. We cannot live like this. We all have fair rights on the road and can’t afford to be bullied by taxi drivers on the roads.”

Chief Supt Wilfred Kgasago, metro police spokesperson, said because of the apparent increase of violators and the potential of serious accidents taking place, the Edleen Precinct is attending to the problem periodically.

On October 5 between 6.30am and 8.30am, 20 fines were issued, three for driving facing oncoming traffic (fined R2 000) and the balance for documentation, other moving violations and defects, Kgasago said.

“Four more operations are planned for the same location this month. Our observation is that the problem mostly occurs during the morning peak.”