Pretoria – A female commuter has opened a case with Pretoria police against a taxi driver she accused of accosting her sexually.
Tintswalo Chauke says she took a taxi in the city on Tuesday morning, and was the only passenger. The driver allegedly began making sexually offensive remarks to her, then exposed his genitalia.
“I asked him numerous times [to stop the vehicle so I could disembark] … He told me that I am being stubborn.”
Chauke took a recording of the incident. The video has been widely shared on social media.
“He snatched my phone as soon as he saw that I was taking a video of him. We wrestled over my phone till I eventually got to snatch it.”
She says she fled the vehicle when the driver stopped at a red traffic light.
“I was terrified because anything could’ve happened. I could’ve been raped, or worse killed and dropped in a ditch somewhere.
“I thought about my mom and son who I know wouldn’t be able to cope should I go missing,” she said.
She says she lodged a complaint at the Moot police station in Pretoria on Wednesday.
“I would really appreciate it if the police found him and justice would be served because if he was capable of doing such in a taxi, while driving, in broad daylight, imagine what he is capable of doing in the dark.”
Police spokesperson Capt Mavela Masondo confirmed that a case of crimen injuria was opened at the station and has since been transferred to Pretoria central for further investigation.
No arrests have been made. Spokesperson of the SA National Taxi Council (Santaco) Thabiso Molelekwa said a meeting with the chairperson of the council in Tshwane would be schedule.
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