Group of black men jumped in front of the taxi and started banging on the bonnet with their fists. The driver sped away but four vehicles followed. “One of the vehicles cut us off and tried to push us off the road. The next moment the other vehicles were behind us" The police did not arrest the men. They did, however, form a circle around me to take me back to the private taxi, but the men suddenly started attacking them. One of the men allegedly threatened to kill her
Commuters attacked at Gautrain station
A train commuter was harassed on Friday afternoon, by a group of men at the Gautrain Centurion station when she board a private metered taxi on her way home.
Lanie Pieterse said the taxi picked her up and on their way out of the station’s parking lot, a group of men jumped in front of the taxi and started banging on the bonnet with their fists.
The driver sped away but four vehicles followed. “One of the vehicles cut us off and tried to push us off the road. The next moment the other vehicles were behind us,” she said.
The taxi driver told her he was not comfortable taking her home anymore, and advised her to rather go back to the station and inform police, who were at the station, of what had happened. So they turned around.
“I have never felt so scared in my life. The men were very aggressive,” she said.
She said when they reached the station again, the men started bashing on the taxi. “I informed the police what had happened and also identified the four men. The police did not arrest the men. They did, however, form a circle around me to take me back to the private taxi, but the men suddenly started attacking them. A fight between the police and the men erupted.”
Pieterse said she was caught in the middle. One of the men allegedly threatened to kill her. “I managed to break free from the fight and made my way to the Gautrain security office where they kept me safe until someone came and picked me up.”
Pieterse had not yet opened a case.
Gautrain issued a statement on its Facebook page on Friday, warning commuters about infighting between Uber and metered taxi drivers parked outside the Centurion station.
“We urge commuters to be vigilant and to take extra care at all times. Police and security visibility has been increased at the Station and we assure commuters that their safety and security remains our number one priority,” the statement read.
Other commuters responded to the post stating that they too had been attacked by a group of men on Thursday and Friday.
Gautrain said security and police presence had been increased to ensure commuter safety. http://rekordcenturion.co.za/61691/commuters-attacked-at-gautrain-station/
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