Friday the 13th turned very unlucky for a Cape Town taxi driver when traffic officers discovered outstanding warrants worth over R220 000.
The 54-year-old Athlone man was just one of 360 suspects arrested by the City’s enforcement agencies this past week. City traffic officers nabbed the minibus taxi driver during a routine roadblock operation along Jakes Gerwel Drive near the N2 at 07:44 on Friday.
What started as standard checks on the driver and vehicle fitness quickly turned serious when officers discovered multiple outstanding warrants totalling R220 150. The driver was promptly arrested and detained at the Athlone police station.
“It was an unlucky day for this driver, but a timely reminder to all motorists to regularly check for outstanding fines and warrants of arrest, and to address these promptly to avoid possible arrest,” said Mayco member for safety and security, JP Smith.
Smith noted that while the City receives many complaints about taxi behaviour, ordinary motorists also break the law and contribute to reckless driving. He encouraged residents to attend the next Traffic Fine Roadshow, coincidentally scheduled for Athlone next week, where they can resolve outstanding fines, summonses, or warrants.
Traffic officers arrested another 40 motorists in an enforcement blitz—34 for driving under the influence, one for reckless and negligent driving, and five on various other charges. They also recorded 45 756 offences, impounded 145 public transport vehicles, and executed 1 713 warrants of arrest.
