Three men, aged 44, 58 and 80, have been arrested for allegedly extorting a taxi driver and his passengers on the N8 highway between Botshabelo and Thaba Nchu.
Police said the incident occurred on 25 June 2026, when a taxi carrying 15 passengers, including elderly people and children, from Botshabelo to Durban was forced to stop after a Toyota Hilux overtook and blocked the vehicle.
The suspects allegedly demanded to know who had authorised the driver to operate on their route. Despite the driver producing a valid long-distance operating permit, the suspects forced all the passengers out of the taxi into the freezing cold before demanding money.
Fearing for their safety, the stranded passengers pooled together R2,500, which the driver handed over to the suspects before they were allowed to continue their journey.
Following an investigation, members of the Mangaung Metro DOCC East Task Team tracked down and arrested the three suspects on 13 July 2026.
The suspects are expected to appear in the Thaba Nchu Magistrate’s Court on charges of extortion.
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