Ms Zonke Nkosi is still feeling the consequences of being assaulted by a taxi driver on Friday, 15 June.
She recalls the event like it happened yesterday when a group of six taxi drivers physically assaulted her and her family on their way home.
“It was 7.30pm and we were trying to get home to KwaMabuza Farm and Amsterdam after a day of shopping.
“It was already late and there were no taxis,” Ms Nkosi said.
She remembers how a fellow traveler appeared with two empty taxis and they all climbed in to get home.
However, things took a turn for the worst when the taxi was about to leave and Ms Zonke requested to be dropped off first at KwaMabuza since she was the first to get off the taxi.
She alleged the driver turned around and aggressively returned her taxi fee and told her to get off his taxi.
Her family rallied around her and also asked to get off because it was not safe for her to travel alone.
When they asked for their taxi fee back, the driver got out of the taxi and opened the passenger door and told them all to get out of his taxi.
When the passengers refused, the other taxi driver approached the taxi and allegedly swore at them.
When Ms Nkosi’s sister, Ms Nompumelelo Madonsela, took offense to the insults, the taxi driver slapped her in the face.
Her brother, Mr Thulani Nkosi, tried to intervene and all hell broke loose.
The brother was allegedly beaten by the taxi drivers to the point of fainting and they allegedly stole his wallet with all his bank cards, including R1 800.
Ms Nkosi and her family were allegedly whipped with sjamboks and taken from the taxi.
However, they could not leave their sibling behind and tried to defuse the situation.
The taxi drivers drove off with their taxi fees, leaving the group of passengers to fend for themselves.
The Highvelder is in possession of the taxi’s number plate registration.
Ms Nkosi is distraught over the ordeal with her brother having lost all his personal identity documents and sustaining various injuries.
Her attempts to visit the Ermelo Taxi Association to resolve the issue have been in vain, because the taxi drivers allegedly insulted her yet again on Monday, 18 June.
When the Highvelder visited the taxi association to enquire about the incident, the leaders said they would investigate the matter.
At the time of going to print, the taxi association did not comment and Ms Nkosi was receiving counselling.
A case of assault was opened in the Ermelo Police Station.
