Taxi drivers who were trying to force their way in front of a car have been filmed beating up the vehicles driver on the N2 near Langa on Wednesday.
A video of the attack, which took place near the Bhunga Avenue turn-off in peak-hour traffic, was recorded by a passenger in the minibus.
The 20-second clip, which was widely shared, shows the motorist, identified as Wafeeq Craven, and a woman who is said to be his mother, surrounded by three men.
One attacker has a knife in his hand and the commuters in the van shout in IsiXhosa: “Please forgive him! Don’t stab him! Rasta let him go! We are late!”
But instead they continue moering him, punching him and kicking him against the concrete highway barrier.
Wafeeq falls to the ground before two men appear and push the attackers aside.
By Wednesday afternoon, the footage was trending on Facebook.
The drama started when the motorist apparently refused to give a taxi way.
The minibus driver cut in front of the car anyway, got out of the van and attacked Wafeeq.
Four more taxis stopped, and more men joined in.
The victim’s friend posted on Facebook: “Please help us find the people responsible for ganging up and brutally hospitalising this young man and his mother! A really peaceful young man who I personally watched grow up in front of me! He won’t even hurt a fly. He was beaten by these pigs.
“Five taxi drivers (all for a spot in traffic) on the N2 (yesterday morning). Please help if anyone has any information regarding the whereabouts of any of these cowards.”
Police spokesman Captain FC van Wyk says no one has been arrested for the incident.
“Athlone police are investigating an assault common case after a man was assaulted by taxi drivers on the N2 between Bhunga and Jan Smuts Drive at about 7.30am (yesterday) morning. Circumstances surrounding this incident are under investigation,” he said.
Anyone with any information can contact Athlone SAPS on 021 697 9200.