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Pretoria - A News24 video journalist was accosted by five men and robbed of his camera during a march led by taxi operators on Wednesday morning.
Inga Mbambisa, who works for News24 in Pretoria, was parked on the side of Soutpansberg Road in Tshwane’s CBD.
He suddenly found himself surrounded.
"Four men jumped out of a number of taxis, surrounded me and instructed me not to shoot any video or take any pictures," said Mbambisa.
LIVE: #TaxiStrike demands Maswanganyi firing
"I showed them that the camera lens was still on the camera and that the power button had been set to the off position."
A fifth man, armed with a knobkerrie, joined the group and tried to take a swing at the journalist.However, Mbambisa managed to grab the weapon.
A struggle ensued during which Mbambisa’s camera was taken.
Mbabisa was escorted to the Pretoria Central police station where he reported the incident.
A case of theft is being investigated.
Arrests
Three taxi drivers were arrested during the protest action on Wednesday.
One was nabbed in Sinoville, north of Pretoria when he allegedly drove his vehicle on the wrong side of the road and collided with other traffic. Police spokesperson Colonel Lungelo Dlamini said four people were injured during the collision.
The remaining two taxi drivers were arrested in Cullinan, east of Pretoria, for allegedly assaulting a Tshwane Metro Police officer.
Taxi associations, under the banner of the National Taxi Alliance, marched towards the Department of Transport and the Union Buildings where they handed over memoranda.
The concerns they raised include issues related to government subsidies, operating licenses, as well as the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (Aarto) Act, which they described as "unconstitutional" and "oppressive".
Several roads were blocked around Pretoria in the morning and there were go-slows on the N4 highway.
