Four taxi drivers from the Benoni Taxi Association appeared in the Daveyton Magistrate’s Court on February 3.
They face three counts of robbery with aggravating circumstances and one count of kidnapping.
They are accused of recently attacking a suspected drug dealer from Barcelona, Etwatwa, during their clean-up operation aimed at targeting drug dealers and users in Benoni and Daveyton.
Videos and photos of the alleged incident have been making the rounds on social media following their arrest on January 25.
During their court appearance, it was highlighted that an identification parade has been concluded and the state is ready to proceed with the bail application.
The matter was postponed to February 15 for bail application purposes.
Members of the Benoni Taxi Association, Operation Dudula and community members gathered outside the court in large groups calling for the release of the four accused.
Members of the Benoni Taxi Association claimed that their colleagues were unlawfully arrested.
“On the day of our operation, we found the complainant in possession of ammunition and drugs. We then contacted the Benoni police to apprehend him. However, to our shock, we then learnt that he was released and our members were arrested without any explanation.
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“The complainant has allegedly been terrorising the community for years with his criminal activities, as well as distributing drugs to our youth,” they said.
A concerned member of the community, Sibongile Mtshali, said she doesn’t understand why the four accused were arrested because they were only trying to wage war against drug dealers for the sake of the youth.
“Benoni Plaza is now clean and more people can walk freely after taxi drivers got rid of the ‘addicts’. We are sick of the justice system favouring criminals.
“I’m here as a mother crying for the future of young people who are sold drugs by drug dealers who are not brought to book,” said Mtshali.
According to Captain Nomsa Sekele, spokesperson for the Benoni SAPS, a case has not been opened against the alleged drug dealer.
“When police officers arrived at the Benoni Taxi Rank after receiving a tip-off about a man that is being assaulted, members of the Benoni Taxi Association failed to give their statements to officers.
“However, bullets and drugs, which were said to have been found in the man’s possession, were booked in at the police station.”
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