A 30-year-old suspect was arrested after a hit-and-run incident in Philippi, Cape Town on Tuesday afternoon. The suspect is believed to be an amaphela taxi driver (one of the illegal taxi operators who run a parallel minibus taxi service).
AMAPHELA OPERATOR ARRESTED FOR HIT AND RUN
City of Cape Town Mayoral Committee (MayCo) Member for Safety and Security, JP Smith, said the amaphela operator allegedly ran over an on-duty Metro Police Tactical Response Unit officer in Stock Road, Philippi on Tuesday.
It is alleged that the suspect refused to stop at the blockade, hit the officer and sped off. The authorities managed to recover the vehicle but the 30-year-old man fled on foot.
The injured officer was taken to N1 City Hospital. He was discharged a few hours later with some bruises and a back injury.
Later in the evening, at approximately 20:00, the amaphela operator was brought to Philippi East police station by the vehicle’s owner.
Smith said the suspect was arrested and detained on charges of attempted murder, reckless and negligent driving, fleeing the scene of an accident, failing to comply with a lawful instruction and defeating the ends of justice.
The MayCo Member furthered that the incident was shocking but not surprising and that it is not the first time the City’s officers have been targeted.
“…this brazen act needs to be condemned in the strongest terms, and we call on the criminal justice system to prosecute the suspect to the fullest extent of the law.
The City also expresses its thanks to the vehicle owner for helping to track down the suspect and ensuring his arrest,” said Smith.
READ:
