A Cape Town taxi driver who attacked a motorist and his family -including a six-month-old baby – in a ruthless road rage incident in Kuils River has appeared in court.
He has also been strongly condemned by the Western Cape taxi association, Codeta.
TAXI DRIVER HANDED IN TO POLICE, APPEARS IN COURT
On Monday, 8 December, Cape Town taxi driver Mawethu Tapuko appeared in the Blue Downs Magistrate’s Court relating to a viral road rage video.
He has been charged with assault and malicious property damage.
Over the weekend, taxi association Codeta posted a video of their representatives escorting Tapuko to a local police station after his attack on a young family.
The organisation shared in a Facebook post: “It is with regret and disappointment to learn that one of our drivers was involved in a road rage.
“We took it upon ourselves to investigate the matter and hunt him to get more information. On hearing the story, Codeta decided to bring him to the attention of law enforcement, where he [te taxi driver] was incarcerated.
It added: “We thank the public for bringing this to our attention and not taking the law into their own hands. As Codeta, we will never promote barbaric acts to prevail in our presence. We are committed to promoting a taxi industry that is free of violence and crime.”
‘I HAVE NEVER BEEN MORE TERRIFIED’
In a TikTok video that went viral last Friday, Cape Town man Sedick Adams posted a clip of a taxi driver unleashing a brutal road rage attack on his family.
The incident took place on Hindle Road in Kuils River.
In the car with Adams was his wife and his six-month-old daughter.
Adams stated that taxi driver Mawethu Tapuko forced his vehicle in front of him, clipping his bumper.
He posted: “I got out to check the damage, and the taxi driver came out already aggressive. The car I was driving isn’t even mine, it’s a family member’s, so I was stressed. Before I knew it, he punched me in the face.
“I defended myself, but suddenly, more taxi drivers got out and started surrounding me. I tried to get back into the car to protect my family. He jammed me between the door so I couldn’t get in.
Adams continued: “When he saw my wife recording. He completely lost it. Tried to open her door, tried to break her window, all while she was holding our baby. When he couldn’t get to her, he smashed my side mirror and shattered the driver’s window.
“A woman nearby tried to pull him back, which gave us just enough time to get away safely”.
Adams added: “I have never been more terrified. My family could have been seriously hurt”.
@sedickadams83 On Friday morning my wife, my 6-month-old daughter and I went through one of the scariest moments of our lives on Hindle Road. Traffic was lighter than usual because of school holidays, but anyone who drives that road knows how wild taxis can be. The robot was green for us, we had right of way, and still three taxis forced their way through. The fourth one pushed it too far — he tried squeezing through a gap he couldn’t make and his tow bar hooked the bumper of the car I was driving. I got out to check the damage and the taxi driver came out already aggressive. The car I was driving isn’t even mine, it’s a family member’s, so I was stressed — and before I knew it he punched me in the face. I defended myself but suddenly more taxi drivers got out and started surrounding me. I tried to get back into the car to protect my family and he jammed me between the door so I couldn’t get in. Then he saw my wife recording. He completely lost it — tried to open her door, tried to break her window, all while she was holding our baby. When he couldn’t get to her, he smashed my side mirror and shattered the driver window. A woman nearby tried to pull him back which gave us just enough time to get away safely. The damage to the car is over R20k, but honestly that’s nothing compared to what this did to us emotionally. My wife was terrified — he was coming straight for her while she held our daughter. He’s appearing in court on Monday. We just want justice for what he put us through. #justice #taxiviolence #gbv ♬ original sound – sedickadams83
