Rapists on the prowl

The community of Alexandra is seeking an urgent meeting with taxi bosses following the link between local Avanza taxi drivers and the ever-increasing scourge of rapes.

Various community organisations meeting at the Adapt offices at the Oliver Tambo Centre in Wynberg resolved to request an urgent meeting with taxi bosses to voice their concerns at the suspected link between Avanza drivers and the spate of rapes sweeping the township.

The modus operandi is that women and girls unwittingly board these Avanza taxis and sometimes find other male passengers in the vehicle. They are then driven to an isolated location where the woman or girl is then gang raped by the party of males.

Read: Woman and teenager escape rape attempts

Addressing the media and various community organisations such as Adapt and Lifeline, to name but a few, at a meeting to map out a strategy for next week’s picket outside court against the granting of bail to a rape and murder suspect, Adapt social worker Lizzy Tsholofelo Nosilela said they were proposing a meeting in early December. “We would like to make the taxi bosses aware of the link between their business operations and marauding rapists that are tarnishing the image of the taxi industry.

“Together, we would like to find a solution to this problem.” She pointed out that they were not accusing the taxi industry of anything, as this could easily pass for the work of criminals misusing taxis to satisfy their own criminal behaviour. “We want to make them aware of this link and possibly work together on finding solutions,” Nosilela added.

Read: Washline picket outside Alex court to oppose bail for rape suspects

She said another disturbing element was the emergence of foreign taxi drivers or operators at night. “We would like this factor addressed as well as we fear it could be connected to the Avanza rapists,” she added.

Meanwhile, Alexandra Police Station’s Visible Policing commander, Colonel Johannes Tau told Alex News recently that a task team comprising all stakeholders had been formed to tackle the issues around Avanza drivers, including allegations of rape, transporting of criminals, and the involvement in business robberies and stolen goods.

He asked that passengers in Avanzas be patient whenever police stop them, as it is in the interest of public safety. This after some have also been driven recklessly, without number plates and licence discs and, at times, the last passengers are either robbed or raped.

The task team has been formed with the Alexandra Taxi Association, the Alexandra Randburg Midrand and Sandton Taxi Association, including the Alex Student Transport Organisation in a bid to redeem the good name of their many members against these transgressors.

The meeting also looked at plans to be put in place concerning activities for the 16 Days of Activism Against Women and Child Abuse in the township.