Taxi Association accused of harassing motorists, hitch-hikers
The man attempted to explain the situation but this fell on deaf ears. He was told to pay R2 000 or the men would 'report his illegal activities to his work place'.
Taxi drivers have been accused of intimidating pedestrians and motorists.
A 36-year-old claims he was harassed and ‘shaken down’ for money by a group of men, reportedly from a local taxi association, after he stopped to pick up his brothers in central Dundee.
The man, who chose to withhold his identity, said he arrived at Hi Way Garage at about 10am on Saturday. While waiting for his two brothers to arrive, two strangers in a maroon Volkswagen Fox pulled up in front of him.
“They alighted and came up to me in a threatening manner. They wanted to know why I was using my work car (the car I was using was carrying the logo of my place of employment) to give commuters lifts.”
The man attempted to explain the situation but this fell on deaf ears. He was told to pay R2 000 or the men would ‘report his illegal activities to his work place’. The driver only had R400 in cash on him, which the men took before driving away. A charge has since been laid at Dundee Police Station.
Threatened with rape and murder
Two weeks earlier, a woman described how an attempt to hitchhike to work turned into a nightmare. Precious [real name withheld], who works as a nurse in Vryheid, often hitchhikes from the area opposite Dundee Secondary School, as she says it is difficult to find transport to Vryheid in the afternoons.
“Two men travelling in a car, stopped and accused me of illegal hitch-hiking. They said I was not allowed to hike at that particular spot. I grew scared and decided to call my mother, and that’s when one of the men grabbed my cellphone and threw it on the ground. I picked it up and got into their car as I assumed they would take me back to the rank, to find a taxi going to Vryheid.”
One of the men then threatened to rape and kill her. Terrified, Precious managed to get a window open and jumped from the moving vehicle. She got in touch with her husband, who came to pick her up.
Together, they went to the taxi rank to complain, but the manager was unavailable. When she later phoned him, the manager told open a case of assault, as the Taxi Association did not condone such behaviour. She later laid a charge at the Dundee Police Station but said she was yet to receive a SMS with her case number included.
The Public Relations Officer of Dundee Taxi Rank, who identified himself as Mr Zwane, said Precious was being dishonest. According to his information, Mr Zwane said four men were in the vehicle and she had not stepped a foot inside it.
“Yes, the driver confiscated her phone, because she tried taking a photograph of them when they reprimanded her for hitchhiking. They took her phone to the taxi rank and left it in the office. Lastly, she and her husband became violent when they came to the rank; that is why they were asked to go to the police station to resolve the matter.”
Spokesman for Dundee SAPS, Captain V Mbense suggested Precious return to the charge office to obtain a case number, so she could follow up on the case.
HAVE YOUR SAY:
Like our Facebook page, follow us on Twitter and Instagram or email us at dundee.courier@caxton.co.za. Add us on WhatsApp 071 277 1394.
