Three meter taxis were torched in Sunnyside on Wednesday, police said.
Another Uber taxi set alight in Arcadia Pretoria pic.twitter.com/vIjNcWR4wK
— No1_Greatest (@greatestMmusi) September 13, 2017
Sunnyside police spokesperson Captain Daniel Mavimbela said the first vehicle was torched on the corner of Arcadia and Beckett streets.
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“It is reported that the driver was called to pick up a passenger. While waiting in his Toyota Quest around 15:00, he was accosted by a group of about eight men who threatened him with violence,” said Mavimbela.
The driver alighted his vehicle and it was set alight.
Mavimbela said the second taxi was also set alight in Sunnyside and the third one was burnt out when its driver was seen loading passengers.
“The SAPS tactical response and the public order policing units have been deployed in the area.
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“Cases of malicious damage to property are being investigated. No arrest has been made as yet. We kindly urge the community to come forward with information as this could lead to arrests of the suspects,” said Mavimbela.
Pretoria Central police spokesperson Captain Augustinah Selepe said in a separate incident on Tuesday evening in the Moot, a meter taxi driver was brutally assaulted allegedly by Uber taxi service drivers.
Another meter taxi driver told the police he was sitting in his Green Polo when a white Nissan Almera with five occupants drove past. One of the occupants threw a brick at his car.
“The brick smashed his window and a few seconds later, a petrol bomb was thrown into his car,” said Selepe.
“Luckily, the complainant managed to escape the burning vehicle with minor injuries.”
Selepe said the same Almera then drove towards a Volvo S80 on the road.
“The five occupants got out and started hitting the Volvo with golf clubs.”
Uber and Taxify could not be reached for comment at the time of going to print.
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