The taxi industry in Cape Town is demanding answers after the murder of a taxi driver allegedly by the police on Friday, 1 November.
The South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) spokesman, Makhosandile Tumana, said they’ve complained about police brutality for a long time, and now they’ve lost their member, Luvuyo Vimba.
Makhosandile said that dead driver was beaten to death allegedly by the police.
He said they still demand justice following his death.
Videos that have gone viral on social media show cops chasing a taxi driver whom they’ve ejected out of the taxi.
It’s still unclear what the dispute was about, but officers caught the driver, and his clothes were torn.
Makhosandile said that as taximen, they’re being abused by law enforcement daily.
“As Santaco Western Cape province, we condemn the police brutality against our driver Luvuyo Vimba. A video of a driver being brutally attacked by the police and law enforcement agencies has been circulating. This is the reality lived by our drivers on our roads in the Western Cape province daily,” he said.
Santaco is calling for the intervention of police minister, transport minister and the police commissioner to address the challenges faced by the taxi industry at the hands of law enforcement.
“The killing of Mr Luvuyo Vimba follows many incidents. Sadly, Luvuyo is seen being brutally beaten by the police until death at the hands of our police.”
“This kind of behaviour is injustice, so we demand that those police officers seen on the video be brought to book. To the family of Mr Luvuyo Vimba, as Santaco Western Cape province, we are extremely sorry,” said Makhosandile.
Police spokesman Captain Frederick Van Wyk said they’re aware of the incident but referred Daily Sun to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid).
Ipid spokesman Phaladi Shuping confirmed the incident.
“Ipid confirms that the matter was reported to the directorate for investigation, and the investigations are underway. There will be a reconstruction of the scene because the victim died days after the incident in hospital,” said Shuping.
