{"id":32325,"date":"2025-10-15T08:32:42","date_gmt":"2025-10-15T06:32:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/?p=32325"},"modified":"2026-03-12T09:45:47","modified_gmt":"2026-03-12T07:45:47","slug":"taxi-operators-hijacking-motorists-in-sa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/taxi-operators-hijacking-motorists-in-sa\/","title":{"rendered":"Warning: Taxi Operators Hijacking Motorists in SA"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Motorists are being warned to stay vigilant as a worrying new criminal trend emerges on the country\u2019s roads. Reports reveal that certain taxi operators are hijacking vehicles and demanding payments from owners to get them back, a practice that has rapidly spread across several regions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-growing-fear-over-taxi-linked-hijackings\">Growing Fear Over Taxi-Linked Hijackings<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>According to the City of Cape Town\u2019s Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith, these incidents are part of a growing pattern of \u201cmafia-style\u201d extortion within the taxi industry. He confirmed that taxi operators stop motorists, seize their vehicles, and then force them to pay to get them back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Smith said these are not lawful impoundments but clear cases of hijacking. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>\u201cWhen someone takes your car without permission and removes it from your control, that\u2019s hijacking,\u201d he said. \u201cMotorists should not give in to demands or make payments. This is outright criminal behaviour.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"gaute-3602478969\" class=\"gaute-inbetween-content gaute-entity-placement\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 30px;margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;text-align: center;\"><div class=\"gaute-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1852772760112594\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1852772760112594\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"1819787043\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-vulnerable-motorists-targeted\">Vulnerable Motorists Targeted<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The attacks often occur during late-night or early-morning hours when vulnerable road users are most exposed. Many victims include workers travelling home after late shifts or drivers transporting schoolchildren. These motorists are being ambushed and intimidated into handing over money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Smith noted that seized vehicles are typically taken to taxi rank offices, where operators demand \u201crelease fees.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019ve seen cases where drivers are told to come to the ranks and pay cash for their cars to be returned,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-inside-the-transport-mafia-network\">Inside the Transport Mafia Network<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Investigations by the city have uncovered that these operations are coordinated by certain taxi associations acting like organised crime networks. Smith described an incident in Khayelitsha where metro police recovered an Uber driver\u2019s car at a taxi office. \u201cWe found the vehicle, but we also uncovered an illegal firearm and cash\u2014clear signs of ongoing extortion,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He added that these groups move around the city in patrol teams, often wearing reflective bibs to appear legitimate while enforcing control over who may operate along particular routes. \u201cIt\u2019s the same model we\u2019ve seen with the construction mafia\u2014intimidation, control, and profit through fear,\u201d Smith explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Taxi operators are not impounding vehicles but hijacking them \u2013 so says JP Smith\" width=\"755\" height=\"566\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Y0qDkSkkomM?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"gaute-1605163457\" class=\"gaute-inbetween-content gaute-entity-placement\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 30px;margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;text-align: center;\"><div class=\"gaute-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1852772760112594\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1852772760112594\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"1819787043\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-fear-of-reprisals-hindering-arrests\">Fear of Reprisals Hindering Arrests<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the biggest challenges facing law enforcement is that many victims refuse to open criminal cases. Most are too frightened or simply relieved to have their vehicles returned. This reluctance allows the perpetrators to continue operating freely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>\u201cWhat we often see is victims asking us to recover the vehicle but not press charges,\u201d said Smith. \u201cBut when no case is opened, the same criminals keep doing it again and again.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>He urged victims to report incidents immediately by contacting the city\u2019s call centre on <strong>021 480 7700<\/strong>, assuring that metro police will help recover vehicles and arrest offenders\u2014provided motorists are willing to take legal action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Also read:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/changes-coming-for-uber-and-bolt\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">From Licensing to Safety Checks: Big Changes Coming for Uber and Bolt<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-calls-for-stronger-laws-and-accountability\">Calls for Stronger Laws and Accountability<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Smith has called on provincial authorities to strengthen legislation to deal more effectively with intimidation and extortion in the transport sector. He also urged citizens to demand accountability from the South African Police Service (SAPS). \u201cPeople should ask how many arrests or prosecutions have taken place because, right now, these crimes are out of control,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"gaute-1616221174\" class=\"gaute-inbetween-content gaute-entity-placement\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 30px;margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;text-align: center;\"><div class=\"gaute-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1852772760112594\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1852772760112594\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"1819787043\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-fighting-back-against-roadside-extortion\">Fighting Back Against Roadside Extortion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The rise of this so-called \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/motoring\/839501\/warning-over-new-mafia-hijacking-south-africans-across-the-country\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">transport mafia<\/a>\u201d highlights the growing threat facing motorists across the country. Even private citizens giving lifts to family or friends have been targeted. Smith\u2019s message to the public is clear: never pay extortionists and always report the crime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Authorities warn that silence only emboldens the culprits. By refusing to pay and insisting on criminal action, motorists can help curb a dangerous pattern that threatens safety on our roads. It\u2019s time for communities, law enforcement, and government to unite against these hijacking syndicates before they tighten their grip on the nation\u2019s transport system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Related article: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/gauteng-e-hailing-service\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Gauteng\u2019s Upcoming E-Hailing Service Aims to Create Local Jobs<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Motorists are being warned to stay vigilant as a worrying new criminal trend emerges on the country\u2019s roads. Reports reveal that certain taxi operators are hijacking vehicles and demanding payments from owners to get them back, a practice that has rapidly spread across several regions. Growing Fear Over Taxi-Linked Hijackings According to the City of<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":32326,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_focus_keyword":"","rank_math_title":"","rank_math_description":"Motorists are being warned to stay vigilant as a worrying new criminal trend emerges on the country\u2019s roads. Reports reveal that certain taxi operators are...","footnotes":""},"categories":[52,50,48],"tags":[11106,256,630],"class_list":{"0":"post-32325","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-car-reviews","8":"category-gautrain","9":"category-transport","10":"tag-latest-car-news","11":"tag-taxi-drivers","12":"tag-taxi-violence"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32325","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=32325"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32325\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":32327,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32325\/revisions\/32327"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/32326"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=32325"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=32325"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=32325"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}