Cape Town taxi drivers picket at Station Deck entrance after one of them was arrested by traffic officers
The demonstration is sparked by the arrest of one of their members by traffic officers near the Langa turnoff on the N2 earlier on Tuesday.
Cape Town taxi drivers picket at entrance of Station Deck after one of their members was arrested. Picture: Ntuthuzelo Nene/EWN.
CAPE TOWN - A large group of minibus taxi drivers are picketing at the entrance of the Station Deck in the CBD.
The demonstration is sparked by the arrest of one of their members by traffic officers near the Langa turnoff on the N2 earlier on Tuesday.
A video doing the rounds on social media shows a handcuffed taxi driver wrestled to the ground by a police officer.
It's understood the driver was arrested for driving on the yellow lane in peak hour traffic.
The group of taxi drivers have described the incident seen on the viral video as an attack on them.
In the video, a traffic officer is seen putting the driver in a chokehold position on the ground while he's in handcuffs.
The protesting drivers are questioning the reasons for the use of maximum force.
However, in a statement released, Cape Town Safety and Security MMC JP Smith says officers subdued the man, who was allegedly resisting arrest, to prevent injuries.
Smith says according to the law; an arresting officer may use sufficient force as is necessary to arrest an offender.