Video
GEORGE NEWS AND VIDEO - Four taxi operators and a bystander were arrested yesterday, Thursday 14 April, in Nelson Mandela Boulevard after an altercation with local traffic officers.
According to Ntobeko Mangqwengqwe, senior communications officer at George Municipality, a taxi was stopped in Nelson Mandela Boulevard (near Ferobrake), after it obstructed the flow of traffic.
When the traffic officer approached the vehicle, he also found that the driver was illegally operating the taxi.
“As the driver was being arrested in terms of the current High Court interdict, he resisted the arrest and tried to escape. In the process of running away, he was chased by a traffic officer, caught from behind and in the process, both fell to the ground and got injured. A few others (taxi drivers) were also arrested for interfering, assault, and intimidation,” said Mangqwengqwe.
The taxi was subsequently impounded.
According to Arnold Pietersen, chairperson of Codeta Disadvantaged Taxi Association George (Codeta), three other taxi operators, including himself, were arrested after they attempted to intervene. An employee from a nearby business who was allegedly recording the arrests on video, was also taken into custody.
Pietersen said the taxi was in no way obstructing the traffic before he was pulled over to the sidewalk. "It was peak traffic when they pulled him over and four of them [traffic officers] approached him and asked for his driver's licence. When he asked who he had to give the licence to, they started man handling him and sprayed him with pepper spray. They harassed him and their aim from the beginning was to arrest him."
During the arrest the driver of the taxi allegedly sustained a broken leg.
According to Pietersen they were all detained at the George police station and released later that evening with the assistance of their legal representative to appear on 12 May.
A media enquiry was sent to the police and George Herald is awaiting their reply.
A video of the arrest was sent to the George Herald. Watch the video below:
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