A TAXI driver has been charged with attempted murder after nearly driving over a City of Cape Town traffic officer in Lansdowne on Wednesday afternoon.
The act was caught on camera in a video that has since gone viral and shows a City of Cape Town Traffic official in front of a moving Toyota Quantum which can be seen carrying passengers in an attempt to stop the taxi.
The 26-second clip shows the taxi driver continuously driving with the officer in front until it comes to a stop sign where the officer is seen getting out of the way as the taxi takes off.
Maxine Bezuidenhout, spokesperson for City Traffic Services, said that the incident took place around 4pm when the traffic official tried to pull the taxi off the road but the driver made a hastige getaway.
She said that the 50-year-old taxi driver was arrested after the incident when additional traffic mobile units responded to assist as he raced down Wetton Road.
The taxi driver was taken to Lansdowne police station and luckily the officer was not injured during the incident.
Bezuidenhout explained: ”City Traffic Services is aware of a video showing a traffic officer in front of a moving taxi.
“The driver of the taxi was arrested soon after the incident yesterday in Wetton Road after he failed to stop on instruction of a traffic officer and then drove off with the officer still in front of his vehicle.
“At about 4.04pm, the officer attempted to pull the taxi off the road, but the driver kept going. Additional traffic mobile units responded to assist.
“The 50-year-old driver was stopped further down Wetton Road and arrested for failing to comply with a lawful instruction, attempted murder and driving while under the influence.
“He was taken to Lansdowne police station and a case docket registered.”