Kuilsriver, 5 December 2025 – A motorist was punched in the face and his vehicle extensively damaged during a violent road rage incident on Hindle Road, Kuilsriver, this morning at approximately 07:30.
According to the victim, he had the right of way and a green traffic light while travelling straight when a minibus taxi forced its way in front of him from the side. The taxi’s tow bar clipped the front bumper of the victim’s car, damaging the headlight.
When the victim stopped to assess the damage and stepped out of his vehicle, the taxi driver approached him aggressively, shouting and swearing. The taxi driver then punched the victim twice in the face and struck him again as he attempted to return to his car.
The victim’s wife and their 6-month-old daughter were inside the vehicle at the time. When the wife began recording the incident on her phone, the taxi driver demanded the phone, attempted to break the passenger-side window next to where she was seated with the infant, kicked the door, and smashed the side mirror.
The attacker then moved to the driver’s side, smashed that side mirror, shattered the driver’s window, and attempted to grab the car keys. Out of fear, the wife stopped recording.
With peak-hour traffic limiting movement, the victim managed to drive away on the shoulder of the road after other motorists prevented the taxi driver from holding onto the vehicle.
The victim sustained facial injuries from the punches and his vehicle suffered damage to the front bumper, headlight, both side mirrors, passenger door, and driver’s-side window.
No arrests have been confirmed at this stage. The incident has been widely shared on social media to raise awareness of the dangers faced by motorists in the area.
Background on minibus taxi conduct in the Western Cape
Minibus taxis remain the primary mode of public transport for millions of commuters in the province, but official records and traffic statistics repeatedly highlight reckless and illegal driving practices by a portion of the industry. According to the Western Cape Town Traffic Services annual reports, taxis consistently rank among the top contributors to moving violations, including disregarding traffic signals, illegal overtaking, stopping in prohibited areas, and driving unroadworthy vehicles. In the 2023/24 financial year alone, City of Cape Town traffic officers issued over 28 000 fines to minibus taxis for various offences. Similar trends are reported by the Provincial Traffic Services across the Western Cape.
These documented infractions contribute to the public perception of widespread inconsiderate and dangerous behaviour by some taxi operators on the roads.
