Angry Congress for Democratic Taxi Associations drivers and owners stormed the Drakenstein Traffic Department yesterday, demanding that their impounded vehicles be released.
This after eight vans were impounded on the closed Paarl/Mbekweni Route B97 yesterday at 5am, which led to a shooting incident.
For more than two hours, about 30 taxis blocked the entrance to the department.
Police fired rubber bullets to disperse the crowd.
Police spokesperson FC van Wyk says: “The provincial traffic officers impounded eight taxis. Other taxi drivers then blockaded Jan van Riebeeck Road and the entrance to the Drakenstein Traffic Department.
body copy_bold: “During the impounding of the vehicles, it is alleged that a taxi driver attempted to run over a traffic officer, who in turn fired several shots at the vehicle, bringing it to a stop.”
Four suspects aged between 34 and 58 were arrested. Police later said that one suspect was released afterwards.
“Two attempted murder cases and an assault case were opened against taxi drivers. The suspects are due to appear in Paarl Magistrates court once charged,” he added.
A taxi owner who asked not to be named says: “The problem here is not the B97 route but the fact that the police and traffic officers seem to be targeting our vehicles.
“This was caused by another association in Groenevale, they don’t want us to pick staff up from their area, and we had been doing that for a long time and they didn’t even inform us that they don’t want us there.
“They could have said that to us instead of sending the police to take our cars. If the police keep taking our cars, what must our children eat?”
Paarl/Mbekweni Codeta Chairman Siyabulela Mandyoli said: “We are going to make things right with the municipality and the police. This was not a taxi violence issue.”
Transport MEC Daylin Mitchell warned that illegal operations on the closed route and attacks on traffic officers, will not be tolerated.
He said that the law will be upheld, and those who break it will be held accountable.