7 suspects arrested for public violence regarding illegal taxis in Nyanga

Western Cape police arrested seven suspects on Friday for public violence. This comes after several vehicles, including four police vans and a bus were damaged earlier the day. Its believed the attack is in response to the City of Cape Town’s operations targeting illegal sedan taxis better known as Amaphela, in the Nyanga area. The violence also erupted on Wednesday and was somewhat contained.

Public violence eruupted in the Nyanga, Phillipi and Samora Machel areas on Friday.

‘’Our Traffic Officers have effected road closures at Klipfontein and Borcheds Quarry, Duinefontein and Govan Mbeki and Govan Mbeki and New Eisleben roads. Incidents of public violence have also been reported at the intersections of Sheffield and Eisleben and in the Samora Machel area. The City's Traffic Service is supported by Metro Police, Law Enforcement and the South African Police Service.  Motorists are requested to proceed with caution and seek alternative routes,’’ said Kevin Jacobs, Cape Town Traffic Services Spokesperson.

Cape Town: Public Order Police in #Nyanga, Law Enforcement agencies, including SAPS Airwing are currently patrolling the #Nyanga policing precinct where sporadic protests started since this morning (Friday, 2022-09-02) at 06:00. pic.twitter.com/EjFArGmXjR

— Athi Mtongana (@AthiMtongana) September 2, 2022

‘’The reinforced deployments comprise public order police, tactical response teams, air support, local police as well as deployments from the City of Cape Town’s law enforcement directorate,’’ said Captain FC Van Wyk.

‘’The deployments are conducting operations, performing patrol duties and monitoring the situation,’’ he added.

Several people, including a Bush Radio employee, was injured on their way to work.

‘’It happened just before 7a.m, coming from the R300/N2. The bus was burnt. Quite a few of us was injured. I jumped out of the bus. A lady broke her ankle. Another lady climbed out of the door, they hit her with the brick and took her handbag. Additionally, another woman’s climbed out of the bus, leaving her handbag behind. Her bag burnt out, which contained money in it,’’ said the Bush Radio employee.

Van Wyk said that they are investigating cases of malicious damage to property and public violence.

‘’They are also set to conduct tracing operations.  All deployments by law enforcement agencies in the area will remain operational on the ground until calm is restored. The arrested suspects will appear in court on Monday.’’

 

Done By: Mitchum George