Two robbery suspects from Hanover Park, aged 22 and 32, appeared in the Wynberg Magistrates’ Court last week after they held a taxi driver and passengers hostage with weapons on a drive in Kenilworth.
Mayco member for safety and security JP Smith announced on social media last week that the duo was arrested after a quick-thinking taxi driver who, as the hold-up occurred, deliberately ran through red traffic lights after spotting traffic officers on the road.
“On Friday 24 May members of the Traffic Service’s Transport Enforcement Ghost Unit were on patrol when they saw a taxi driver [flagrantly] disregard a directional arrow at the intersection of Rosmead Avenue and Chichester Road.”
He said the officers were shocked, as the driver had clearly spotted them before committing the offence.
Smith said the traffic officers ordered the taxi to the side of the road, and the driver pointed the two men out to them. He told them they had boarded the vehicle, threatened him with a firearm and demanded money from the passengers.
Armed
The officers proceeded with a swift arrest of the two suspects. A search revealed both were also armed with knives, Smith added.
“They also had drug paraphernalia in their possession.”
The suspects were detained at Claremont Police Station on charges of robbery, intimidation and possession of dangerous weapons.
This was confirmed by Claremont police’s vispol commander, Lt Col Marnus Fourie.
The traffic officers interviewed the passengers on the day in question, who were found to be unharmed, although shaken up by the incident. They confirmed the incident as told by the taxi driver.
Fourie confirmed the suspects are due to appear in the Wynberg Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday 10 July.
