A warning by the Hout Bay Community Police Forum (Hout Bay CPF) has alerted drivers to taxi-related shootings in the area this morning. “Taxi related shootings are happening at the SAPS taxi rank this morning, please avoid the road and take alternative routes this morning,” the statement reads.
In a media release, Ward Cllr Roberto Miguel Quintas said,”Taxi operators in large numbers congregated on Main Road in the vicinity of the South African Police Services Station in the early hours of Wednesday morning. Approximately 40 gun shots were fired and one person has been shot. The taxi operators proceeded to blockade Valley Road Circle, and Main Road on the Constantia Route.”
“Access in and out of Hout Bay is possible via Chapman’s Peak and Victoria Road to Camps Bay. SAPS has confirmed that they will act against vehicles blockading roads and community members obstructing roads.”
Quintas said he arranged for the taxi engagement Unit to facilitate a break up of the blockades and a high level meeting of all taxi stakeholders, City and Provincial authorities to take place early next week at the Civic Centre.
In a separate incident, a 29-year-old taxi driver was arrested on Old Paarl Road in Belville for driving under the influence. “There were seventeen passengers in the taxi on route from Kraaifontein to Belville,” a City of Cape Town spokesperson said.
Just last week, three taxi drivers who topped a list of offenders with outstanding warrants were apprehended. The trio had more than 222 warrants between them, which altogether totalled just under R400 000.
One of the drivers, a 36-year-old, had 56 warrants outstanding to the value of R103 500. Another driver (35) had 133 outstanding warrants valued at R188 650.
“His vehicle was impounded two weeks ago in Brackenfell and he actually had the temerity to show up at the pound,” JP Smith, Mayco member for Safety and Security, said.
The third driver, who had outstanding warrants amounting to R100 600, was arrested at a roadblock in Mitchells Plain,
“I want to commend the officers who made these very significant arrests and I hope that the courts throw the book at these drivers,” said Smith. “It is the only way that we’ll get a handle on the reckless behaviour on our roads and disregard for the law.”
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