Couple attacked by taxi driver
“They punched and kicked me through my window and then they kicked my car. There was a woman in a car behind us who screamed for them to stop, but they would not. When the traffic light changed, I managed to start the car and sped off,” said Mr de Beer.
Mr Don de Beer was left bruised and his wife, Colleen, traumatised after they were attacked by a taxi driver and his passenger on Van Riebeeck Avenue.
The incident took place on Thursday, February 13, while the couple was driving to the Van Riebeeck Mall from their home in Sunnyridge.
While stopped at the intersection of Van Riebeeck Avenue and AG De Wit Drive, a blue taxi stopped slightly behind the couple’s car in the next lane.
“The driver threw some refuse out of his window and Colleen turned to look at what was happening,” said Mr de Beer.
When the traffic light changed, the couple drove towards Edenvale.
“The driver and his passenger, who was in the front seat, started screaming and swearing at us and hurling insults at my wife,” said Mr de Beer.
He added that when the driver of the taxi tried to cut them off, he was able to swerve around the mini bus.
“The driver then pulled up to the driver’s side of my car and threw liquid all over my car. It was putrid and smelt like urine,” said Mr De Beer.
With the unknown liquid splashed over the front the car, the couple was forced to stop at the intersection of Van Riebeeck Avenue and Horwood Street when the traffic light turned red.
“At this point the driver and his passenger were extremely aggressive and they both climbed out of their vehicle.
“They punched and kicked me through my window and then they kicked my car. There was a woman in a car behind us who screamed for them to stop, but they would not. When the traffic light changed, I managed to start the car and sped off,” said Mr de Beer.
But this was not the end of the couple’s ordeal.
“The driver and passenger followed us as we sped towards Van Riebeeck Mall. They then called other taxi drivers to join in the chase and before we knew it, they were trying to corner us is a small street,” he said.
At this point, Mamba Strike Force reaction officers patrolling the Edenvale CBD on scooters spotted the commotion.
“They stopped next to us and asked us what was wrong. We explained and the two guards said we must drive to the police station immediately and they will block the road. Which they did – they blocked the road with their scooters and gave us enough time to drive to the police station,” said Mr de Beer.
At the Edenvale Police Station, a sergeant dealing with the matter asked the couple if they would be able to recognise the driver if they saw him.
“I told the officer I would be able to and he ushered me to a police vehicle while my wife stayed behind. We drove around the area for a while but the driver was gone.
“We went back to the station and opened a case,” said Mr De Beer.
The couple later found out that the security guards were not only able to stop the taxi driver, but also managed to take down the registration number of the taxi.
“Mamba was fantastic, those two officers risked their lives to help complete strangers,” said Mr de Beer.
The NEWS has previously reported on unruly taxi drivers threatening motorists.
In the February 5 edition of the NEWS, it was reported that an Edenvale father was furious after his wife and two children were threatened by taxi drivers on Laurie Road.
Mr Ricky Correia said authorities have to do something “before people start taking the law into their own hands”.
The previous week, the NEWS reported that unruly taxi drivers continued their rampage and abusive behaviour towards motorists on Harris and Laurie roads.
Taxi drivers were threatening motorists with weapons.
Using knobkerries, taxi drivers intimidate oncoming motorists to move off the road or face injury.
“If motorists in the oncoming lanes do not allow the taxis to pass, the drivers use the knobkerries to smash and damage windscreens,” said Edenvale resident, Mr Kesigan Padayachee.
Another motorist, Ms Monique Morris, concurred with the statements made and said she feared for her safety as a female motorist.
In the February 12 edition of the NEWS, national taxi co-ordinator, Mr Malose Joe Modisha condemned abusive behaviour by taxi drivers and stated “taxi drivers do not own the roads”.
