Cape Town – A young woman was physically assaulted by a minibus taxi driver on the Wynberg to Strandfontein route on the morning of 8 December 2025 following a dispute over the taxi fare.
According to reports, an argument broke out between the passenger and the driver after words were exchanged regarding the fare. The disagreement escalated, resulting in the driver becoming physical with the female passenger.
The victim opened a criminal case against the driver following the incident.
Police have confirmed that a case of assault has been registered, and the matter is under investigation. No arrests have been reported at this stage.
The incident has once again highlighted ongoing concerns about passenger safety in the minibus taxi industry. In South Africa, minibus taxis are more frequently involved in road traffic accidents than other types of vehicles. Common causes include speeding, overloading, ignoring traffic signals, and driver fatigue. Many passengers regard taxis as unsafe and report abusive treatment.
Illegal operators contribute to violence within the industry. This occurs amid persistent taxi violence in Cape Town, where conflicts between taxi associations have caused route closures, stranded thousands of commuters, and resulted in fatalities. In 2025, the Western Cape Government closed several minibus taxi routes in response to ongoing violence. For other road users, taxi drivers frequently exhibit risky behavior such as stopping abruptly in traffic, driving on the wrong side of the road, ignoring robots, and parking illegally while waiting for passengers. Taxi wars between associations and individual operators have continued since the late 1980s.
Authorities have urged anyone with additional information to contact the nearest police station.
