Bogus taxi patrol squad arrested for extorting money from taxi operators on the N4 highway
It is alleged that two foreign nationals would stop taxi operators along the N4, demand an R2500 fine, and threaten to impound their taxis should they fail to pay the fine.
Two undocumented foreign nationals were arrested for posing as a taxi patrol association squad along the N4 highway in Tshwane on Thursday.
It is alleged that the two suspects would stop taxi operators along the N4, demand an R2500 fine, and threaten to impound their taxis should they fail to pay the fine.
According to the spokesperson for the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport Melitah Madiba, the duo was arrested by the Gauteng Public Transport Intervention Unit (PTIU).
“The unit was conducting #Fatela Road Safety operation along the N4 highway outside of Bronkhorstspruit when they nabbed the two undocumented foreign nationals for allegedly driving a vehicle displaying a false registration plate, fraudulent license disk as well as extortion.”
Madiba said the unit also impounded two minibus taxis and took the sedan, which is suspected to be a stolen vehicle, to the Pretoria Vehicle Identification Service unit for further investigation.
“It is alleged that the suspects operate along the N4 route where they stop minibus taxis travelling along the route and threaten to impound their vehicles if they do not pay an R2500 spot fine.”
MEC for Transport and Logistics, Kedibone Diale-Tlabela has commended the PTIU following their arrest of two suspects bogus taxi association patrol squad.
“The PTIU continues to play an important role in maintaining law and order in the public transport system,” said MEC Diale-Tlabela who was on-site during the arrest.
Diale-Tlabela welcomed the arrest of the two suspects and said these individuals pose a serious threat to the peaceful operation of minibus taxis in the province.
Diale-Tlabela confirmed that the PTIU responded to this complaint following a huge outcry about similar incidents that have been taking place along the N4 route over the past few months.
“The Department is set to continue conducting #Fatela road safety drives throughout January and beyond to encourage compliance and promote the safe usage of roads in identified hotspots in the province,” she said.
She said the overall objective of the operation is to reduce carnage through road safety education, encouraging responsible road usage, and declaring zero tolerance for lawlessness and drunk driving, which has been identified as among the leading causes of road accidents.
The PTIU, on the other hand, will continue to monitor and ensure compliance and visibility on Provincial roads.
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