Two, linked to a taxi association, arrested for intimidating motorist
“We cannot allow road users to be held hostage by these criminals.”
Two men from a taxi association were arrested for intimidation and trying to extort money from a light-duty vehicle driver in Olievenhoutbosch on Monday.
The two, aged 38 and 40, were arrested by Gauteng traffic officials for allegedly confiscating a motorist’s car keys as well as cellphone and demanded an amount of R1 500 as “release fee”.
“The arrested suspects are believed to be linked to PRS Taxi association,” said Gauteng Traffic police spokesperson, Sello Maremane.
“The suspects were immediately intercepted following a collaborative effort by the members of Gauteng Traffic Police and SAPS attached to the Public Transport Intervention Unit.”
The pair were immediately detained at the Olievenhoutbosch police station and were expected to appear at the Pretoria magistrate’s court on Tuesday.
They will face charges of robbery, extortion and impersonating the duties of traffic officers.
“The Gauteng Traffic Police is concerned about growing incidents of robbery, extortion and intimidation of drivers by members attached to various taxi associations,” Moremane said.
“No one has the authority to stop any vehicle on our public roads except the law enforcement agencies.”
Moremane said law enforcement authorities would stop at nothing to ensure that those impersonating officers and taking the law into their own hands were removed from public roads.
“We cannot allow road users to be held hostage by these criminals,” added Sello Maremane.
Members of the public are therefore encouraged to continue reporting any form of lawlessness at their nearest police stations.
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