KwaZulu Natal Social Development MEC Nonhlanhla Khoza has called for the urgent arrest of a male passenger who was captured in a video beating up a woman. He goes on to say: “Driver, I am going to kill your passenger.”
It’s not yet clear where exactly the video was taken, but it’s alleged it was taken in a taxi that was loading passengers from Pietermaritzburg to Durban.
Khoza said the video shared by witnesses was heartbreaking.
“It doesn’t matter what might have led the man to act so cruelly against the defenseless woman. His actions are unjustifiable. This heartbreaking scene shows that we have men who are violent by nature towards women,” she said.
She said while they will try to trace the victim and ensure she gets support following her abuse, they also call for her to come forward to be helped with psychosocial support.
“This matter cannot go unchallenged. Our daily occurrences of women abuse, rape, and murders need us as the society to be united in isolating those involved in such cruelty against women and children,” said Khoza.
She commend the passengers who recorded the video for bringing the matter to their attention.
“It would be pleasing to see the police setting an example with that man, who displayed high levels of hooliganism.”
She urged the leaders of the South African National Taxi Council to work with the police to expose the man.
“The taxi industry has to rid itself of such people to protect its image and business. The government signed a memorandum of understanding with Santaco merely to end such incidents in the transport industry and society at large,” said Khoza.
Santaco chairman in KZN Sifiso Ntshangase said they condemned the violence and the attack of defenseless women.
“We would advise the passenger who was assaulted to go to the police and open a case so the attacker can be arrested and taught a lesson. We also encourage our drivers and other passengers to always try and calm such situations, instead of looking on.”
Ntshangase said they’re still trying to locate the exact place where the incident happened so they can see how they can assist.
