Four City traffic officers needed hospital treatment for their injuries after they were attacked in Milnerton last Wednesday by two taxi drivers, says mayoral committee member for safety and security JP Smith.
According to Mr Smith, the officers spotted an overloaded Toyota Quantum and asked the driver to pull over, but he refused and the officers gave chase. The driver then stopped the taxi and started assaulting them to resist arrest.
“A second taxi stopped, and that driver joined in the fight by assaulting the officers,” said Mr Smith.
The officers had called for backup as a crowd of passers-by had shouted and threatened the officers, he said.
Two more traffic officers had arrived at the scene, he said, and the two suspects had been arrested and taken to Milnerton police station.
Mr Smith said they faced several charges, including reckless and negligent driving, assaulting a peace officer, resisting arrest, damage to council property and failing to obey a lawful order.
“We condemn these brazen attacks on our staff, and I call on the justice system to deal with these suspects,” he said.
A video showing traffic officers trying to apprehend one of the suspects spread quickly on social media.
In response to the video doing the rounds, Mr Smith said his statement was the “whole truth”.
He said: “It can’t be that the same communities who cry out for enforcement are ones who obstruct those very efforts. These incidents are among the reasons why we are working to amend the traffic by-law, to empower our staff to push back against the total disregard for the rule of law.”
Milnerton police did not respond by time of publication to emailed questions sent to them on Thursday May 16.
