'I DIDN’T CALL HIM THE K-WORD'

THE man who was filmed getting stabbed by a taxi driver with an Okapi in Maitland has broken his silence and wants to set the record straight.

Zain Pandey, 47, from Wynberg spoke to the Daily Voice and said that he wants to tell his ‘truth’ for the safety of himself and his family and make it clear that he is not a racist.

This comes after the 28-year-old taxi driver associated with the Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association (CATA) accused Zain of calling him the K-word, which he claims provoked him to stabbing the man. He also accused Zain of knocking into him first.

Footage of the violent attack at the intersection of Canon and Voortrekker Road in Maitland on 26 June went viral last week. 

The taxi driver is seen getting on top of Zain, pulling out an Okapi and then stabbing him.

“None of that happened. I did not call him the K-word nor did I knock him because he drives a quantum and I drive a VW Caddy. If I knock him, he knocks my whole front off,” said Zain of the driver’s allegations.

Zain said he was on his way to fetch his daughter at school when the incident took place.

“What happened was I threw him with an empty packet of cigarettes because he drove k@k, he added.  

“He was driving next to me on the phone and did not take note of how he was driving because he was driving over double lanes. 

“When he saw me, he actually had to swerve. 

“He was driving reckless behind me and I took my last cigarrete out of the packet and threw it against the van and said ‘yay f**k off, you driving k@k”. 

“I showed him signs that you are on the phone and not looking where you are driving. 

“When we got to the intersection at the red robot he came in front of me and we both got out of our vehicles. 

“He asked why I threw his van and I told him ‘you drive k@k, you are on your phone and don’t take note of what is happening around you, you could have made an accident, so f**k off’. 

“That was when I walked away and he hit me. I did not hit him first.”

The accused claimed that he only stabbed Zain twice, but the victim said that is a lie as he was stabbed eight times.

He added: “I had one wound on my stomach that would not stop bleeding and they had to cut me open because I also had internal bleeding. 

“My body is sore but I am coping... My biggest concern is my family’s safety and my work because he accused me of being a racist.”

When asked how he feels about the taxi driver being arrested, Zain said: “The law must take its course.”