A group of approximately 100 people blocked the roadway leading to the Station deck taxi rank in the Cape Town CBD. As a result, traffic officers closed Christiaan Barnard Street between Sir Lowry Road and Hertzog Boulevard.
Image: Armand Hough / Independent Newspapers
VIDEO clips showing a traffic officer with his arm around a taxi driver and subsequent claims that the driver had died, led to outrage and a hostage situation at the Cape Town station deck on Tuesday.
In one of the recordings, a woman was heard crying, saying the man was dead.
The incident which happened near Langa on the N2, left many shocked and saw drivers at the station deck in a stand-off with the police and traffic officers.
After clips were shared on social media, the driver’s colleagues allegedly held two law enforcement officers hostage, they were later freed.
According to Cape Organisation for the Democratic Taxi Association (Codeta) spokesperson Makhosandile Tumana, the drivers were angry after hearing their colleague had died during the traffic stop.
“We got information that our drivers were blocking roads. There were rumours that one of the drivers was killed by the traffic officers, they didn’t get information that he had collapsed after he suffocated. They thought that he was dead, and that is why they were angry. We sent the working committee to the station deck (to relay) that he didn’t die but was arrested.
“We are concerned about the excessive force used by the traffic officers during the arrest.”
Mayco member for Safety and Security, JP Smith, said just before 7am on Tuesday, traffic officers apprehended a taxi driver who fled after being pulled over for driving along the shoulder of the road on the N2 incoming, near Langa.
“We have since learnt that he has an outstanding warrant of just under R3 000. The driver’s actions put his passengers and other road users at risk, but this was aggravated by the fact that he resisted arrest after traffic officers stopped his vehicle, placing himself and the officers in danger.
“Officers were therefore forced to subdue him, in accordance with the provisions of the Criminal Procedure Act, which stipulates that an arresting officer may use sufficient force as is necessary to arrest an offender. The chokehold in this case prevented any injury, which could happen if the accused is not restrained or resorts to violence if they decide to fight with officers while resisting arrest.”
Smith said that due to misinformation spread on social media, claims soon started circulating that the driver had died when he was in fact in custody and being processed at the Athlone police station.
“This misinformation has now also resulted in unnecessary tensions in the CBD, seemingly involving some within the minibus industry, with an illegal gathering, the closure of roads and holding two of our Law Enforcement officers hostage. Their colleagues have since freed them.
“These actions are illegal and will inevitably lead to an escalation of conflict, and I call on those involved to cease and desist and allow the law to take its course.”
Police spokesperson Sergeant Wesley Twigg said the traffic officer and the alleged suspect were at Athlone police station, where a reckless and negligent case was registered for investigation.
South African Communist Party provincial secretary, Benson Ngqentsu said: “The shocking video of the traffic officer strangling a civilian circulating on social media is utterly unacceptable. All our citizens, including minibus taxi operators, must respect and obey the law. We condemn the behaviour of the traffic officer. I am deeply disturbed by this incident, and it reminds me of the apartheid donor-kop police behaviour.”
Cape Times