“They have no right to stop any other person on a public road. They can stop their own taxis, but they can’t stop any member of the public, whether it’s a neighbour or anyone else. They are not allowed to stop people,” said General Fanie Masemola, national police commissioner, on so-called taxi patrols.

Motorists and hitchhikers have been intimidated by the patrols during the past few years.

People have been assaulted and threatened by heavily armed men or forced off the road.

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This has happened especially on the Stoffberg- and Loskop Dam roads.

“Taxi patrollers and/or security personnel affiliated with taxi associations who harass and coerce motorists into making financial payments under threat, termed as ‘fines’, constitute financial extortion and other related criminal offences, particularly when accompanied by additional criminal acts such as confiscating keys of fellow motorists and holding them hostage.

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“We strongly encourage victimised motorists to report these incidents to the South African Police Service and urge law enforcement agencies to take decisive action in stamping the authority of the state as and when such incidents are brought to their attention.”

The National Commissioner will task all Provincial Commissioners to adopt a zero-tolerance approach in dealing with these acts of crime.

Victimised motorists are advised to press criminal charges.