When taxi drivers attack Traffic Officers in Cape Town...

Earlier this week and in 2 separate incidents, our Traffic Officers were attacked while enforcing the law against those operating in the public transport industry.

The law must be enforced without fear or such intimidation tactics!

I immediately requested our management within the services to send out a strong message.

On Wednesday morning, more than a hundred members from Traffic Services, Metro Police, Law Enforcement, and even the SAPS Flying Squad, descended onto the N2 just after 05h00.

No Fear! No favour!

While we are only able to operate through existing legislation, previously our enforcement services would impound taxis using the National Land Transport Act- that of national legislation.

The taxi industry became outraged, resulting in the conditions of their Operating Permits being amended that only allowed taxis to be impounded if "operating without a permit." For inconsiderate driving, ignoring traffic signals or lane markings, we can now only issue a fine.

While we have continued impounding for the permit condition, the driving behavior in the public transport industry has worsened dramatically! And with fellow road users copying them and now following suite, it's a downward spiral of lawlessness.

Previously though, traffic fines were ignored. Now our newly enabled ANPR system immediately identifies vehicles that have been involved in previous incidents and those fines that have been left ignored. And undoubtedly many defiant drivers are angered since they are no longer able to escape accountability.

The law is the law.

We will enforce it, without being intimidated.
No fear. No favour.

[pierrefourie]

Well done City of Cape Town. South Africa needs discipline.

[sylviabooysen]

Now the ANC government wonder why there is so many accidents and kids dying. All comes back to lawlessness!!!!

[unboxsa]

You guys should release a lot more footage of the work you do. It's fascinating to see your encounters with crime in SA. Video also raises awareness of the work you do and enhances trust between citizens and law enforcement. Seriously, you guys are sitting on extremely interesting content that a lot of people would like to see more of.

[StevenvanderMerweProfile]

Today, a taxi driver did a U-turn directly in front of my motorbike and nearly took me out. He saw me, but he was rushing and decided to just turn in front of me. Thank goodness for ABS brakes and that the road was dry, else I was for sure in hospital or worse. They just don't give a damn about the safety of anyone else on the road. I am grateful for this work that you are doing, thank you from me and my family!

[AMF]

Thank you for listening to us. We have been under threat for soooo long.

[GeorgeNormanJhb]

This what effective law enforcement looks like. Anc take note.

[geraldinemichael]

Thank you JP and law enforcement team, please be safe out there

[deanocrowie]

You have the support JP ..an i thank you.

[BuLLeT]

While I applaud the work that is being done, the fact is that no deterrent seems to be working. That chap in the video was arrested twice on the very same charges. I can guarantee you that he was out the following day doing the same thing again. We all see taxis making a mockery of our road rules every single day, past the point of it being comical. The taxi industry needs to be regulated and reformed. Additionally, it is very hard to encourage city officials to engage with problem areas.

[hiddy-]

It's by time. Know to have Consistency in keeping as all safe on the road at all times.

[andredevilliers]

THEY MUST GO TO SEA POINT: SHOCKING HOW THE TAXI DRIVERS MALE THERE OWN RULES AND SPEEDING❗

[bradrockl]

As the informal settlements grew so does there taxi volumes Cata and Codetta the biggest problem on our roads

[ZubairKhan-vsfe]

Ya. In Joburg things are done differently.
The cops take coke money

[whateva]

If the South African Police and or Government are serious about stopping crime, this is where you start !
Commuters see how these drivers abuse the Law and talk amongst themselves, that message is then relayed to the pissant, who then takes the law into his own hands.
done Cape Town Government.
It once again shows, how the other party operates .

[terencetuck]

The arrogance and criminality of taxi's is ncomprehensible. What they do and how they behave is beyond belief. Either fix these criminals or let the country become ungovernable and a wasteland.

[petebuttons]

I travel by motorbike into Cape Town every day and these taxi drivers just do not care. I have had to use evasive action on many occasions because they see you but still do not care and turn in front of you. They use both shoulders of the road every single day and this just makes the traffic jams worse. When there are no cops around all bets are off and they just disregard other drivers with their recklessness. They put their passengers lives in danger every day. 9 times out of 10 if there is an accident on the N2 into Cape Town a taxi is involved. I suggest a mandatory tracking device fitted to all taxis so that they can be monitored which should free up traffic officers to do their main job of making the roads safe.

[MM-uvkb]

Fines are useless. I appreciate increased surveillance, but daily we are intimidated by these hooligan drivers on the road. Very strict measures need to be put in place on a consistent basis. Not only after a crisis, but daily.

[jtolken]

Thank you for this it is appreciated. We’d like to see more of this. I am tired of seeing taxi’s zoom past me in traffic travelling in the yellow lane. In the evening when i go to the gym in Durbanville i am astounded to see so many taxi’s transporting people to Fisantekraal Or Klipheuwel in the pitch black night with no working lights or only one dimly lit head light, not to mention the delivery bikes zooming around in the dark with no head lights. They do this because there are no traffic police around that time of the evening to hold them accountable.

[Saadjie]

I absolutely love the increased presence, keep up the good work!

I see so many people using their phones while driving (I ride a bike) & this really needs attention, please! I've even caught some traffic officers using their phones while driving.

[frikkiehitge]

Very good. Taxi drivers think and opperate as if they are above the law. They do what they want and does not have any respect for other road users.👏🏻👏🏻