Sea Point bystanders and passengers thwarts arrest of taxi driver

The City of Cape Town has condemned the attack on its law enforcement officers. The latest incident occurred on Friday, when a taxi tried to evade a checkpoint in Sea Point. Mayoral committee member for safety and security, JP Smith said officers eventually stopped the vehicle, but the passengers and bystanders became unruly.

PICTURE: Pixabay

He added that the officers eventually managed to take the driver into custody on charges of reckless and negligent driving, as well as a bystander who had made threats against them, for obstruction of justice.

‘’The crowd tried to surround the patrol car, banging on the vehicle, but officers were able to leave the area, with the two suspects,’’ said JP Smith, Mayoral committee member for Safety and Security.

The mayco member said this is not the first incident of such nature. In recent months, groups stormed police stations to free suspects, and helped armed suspects to get away, in handcuffs.

'’What happened in Sea Point is but the latest incident of our staff having to contend with bystanders running interference. This is a trend that simply cannot be condoned. We cannot be a society that decries the level of crime and violence, calling out for increased and more effective enforcement, but then turn on those who are trying to do that very job. It bears reminding that interfering with a peace officer in the execution of their duties can have legal consequences, so I caution the public to be mindful of inserting themselves into situations that have nothing to do with them,'’ said JP Smith, the City's Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security.

 

Done by: Esona Mfazwe // Edited by: Mitchum George