Motorists across Cape Town are being warned about a disturbing trend: taxi operators allegedly hijacking vehicles and demanding payment for their return.
City of Cape Town Mayco Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith, has sounded the alarm over what he calls a wave of ‘mafia-style extortion’ spreading through parts of the country. Speaking to Cape Talk, and relayed by Business Tech, Smith said the City has received multiple reports of motorists, including private transport and scholar transport operators, being ambushed, stripped of their vehicles, and then forced to pay to get them back.
Smith asserts that the incidents masquerade as ‘impoundments,’ yet he clarifies the true nature of the situation. ‘It is hijacking when somebody takes your vehicle without your consent and removes that vehicle from your control,’ he said. ‘This is a plain and simple matter of hijacking and extortion, and it is disgraceful.’
He explained that the victims are often among the most vulnerable, people heading home late from work or drivers transporting schoolchildren. ‘Very often it is aimed at quite vulnerable people being taken home from work at difficult shift hours, or scholar transport,‘ Smith added.
The City’s investigations reportedly point straight to elements within the taxi industry. Vehicles taken in this manner are often kept at taxi rank offices, where the owners must negotiate or pay to reclaim them.
Smith recalled one incident in Khayelitsha when he was on patrol with metro police. ‘An Uber driver alerted us that this had just happened to him. We went to the taxi office, found the vehicle, returned it to the driver, and also discovered an illegal firearm and cash hidden behind a cabinet,’ he said.
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Smith is urging victims not to hand over money but to report incidents directly to the City for help. ‘People can call our call centre on 021 480 7700, and we will assist. We will retrieve that vehicle and arrest the persons for hijacking, but only if the victim is willing to open a case.’
He warned that many people simply walk away after their vehicles are recovered, which allows the extortion to continue unchecked. ‘Those extortionists just keep on doing what they do. It’s imperative that you’re willing to open a case,’ he said.
Smith compared the growing taxi extortion problem to the notorious ‘construction mafia,’ saying both operate as organised crime networks. ‘We’ve spoken about the construction mafia, so why are we not talking more about the taxi extortion mafia?’ he asked. ‘There are roving patrol teams that travel around the city, often in groups of three or four, sometimes wearing bibs, deciding which vehicles are allowed through.’
He added that the City has appealed to the provincial government to strengthen legislation against these intimidation tactics. The situation, he said, has become so severe that even private motorists are being stopped and threatened for giving lifts to friends or family.
Smith urged residents to act. ‘Please do call our call centre, we will help,’ he said. ‘But you must also challenge the South African Police Service. Ask them what they are doing about this and how many people they have prosecuted. Because it is seriously out of control.’
Contact this number to report any incidents of extortion: 021 480 7700
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