Wafeeq Craven (20) was assaulted on the N2 highway in Cape Town by a group of taxi drivers on Wednesday, December 2 at approximately 7.30am.
The incident was captured on video and quickly went viral on social media. In the 20-second clip, three men are seen attacking Craven. A woman, believed to be Craven’s mother, briefly pops into the frame amid the flurry of kicks and punches.
The video ends just after two men intervene and stop one of the attackers, just as he was about to kick Craven, who was already lying on the ground.
This mornings savage attack on the N2 And Bhunga by 5 taxi drivers on a motorist,@BOSBEER2006 @MARIUSBROODRYK @SABCNews @ewnreporter @SAPoliceService @WCGovSafelyHome pic.twitter.com/ZRX5KjpInm
— 1Second (@1SecondLater) December 2, 2020
Please help us find the people responsible for ganging up and brutally hospitalising this young man and his mother! A…
Posted by Ikeraam Moses on Wednesday, December 2, 2020
“A man was assaulted by taxi drivers on the N2 between Bhunga and Jan Smuts Drive. Circumstances surrounding this incident are under investigation. No arrest has been made as yet,” Police spokesperson FC van Wyk told The South African.
JP Smith, MayCo member for Safety and Security, said authorities have identified the license plate numbers of at least two vehicles involved in the incident and he expects arrests to be made today [December 3], according to Radio 786.
It is alleged that the motorist was driving on the N2 when a taxi bumped into his car. The motorist then allegedly punched the taxi with his fist, the taxi drivers then proceeded to box his car in and this led to the assault.
According to Craven’s account of events, he was driving to work when a taxi cut him off and scraped his car. When he attempted to notify the taxi driver, the taxi which allegedly scraped his vehicle and two other taxis cut him off.
An object was allegedly thrown at Craven’s vehicle and he was attacked when he stepped out of the car. He also claims that he was stabbed in the cheek and only received help after he was stabbed.
Craven’s 55-year-old mother allegedly sustained bruises to her face and arms, as a result of her attempts to stop the assault.
The Athlone SAPS are investigating the incident and anyone with information that can assist their investigation is encouraged to contact them at 021 697 9238 or Crime Stop at 08600 10111.
Picture: screenshot from video