Hundreds march against taxi rapes

Hundreds of protesters on Thursday took part in a march against a spate of rapes and robberies reported by female taxi commuters in parts of Gauteng.

Hundreds of community members‚ the ANC Women's League‚ law enforcement officers and officials from the Gauteng department of community safety gathered outside the Johannesburg Prison in Naturena.

Marchers passed the Southgate Mall taxi rank‚ where MEC Sizakele Nkosi-Malobane interacted with taxi drivers and commuters.

"Please be safe in taxis. If you feel you are not safe‚ get off. If they want you to pay‚ pay. You would rather lose money than your life‚" Nkosi-Malobane told commuters.

"If this happens to you‚ please report it. Do not keep quiet‚" she said.

The march comes after several women reported cases of rape and robbery after they were picked up by taxis in various areas in the province.

One of the women was gang raped in a taxi she and her 10-year-old son boarded along Ontdekkers Road in Roodepoort.

Nkosi-Malobane said the boy was undergoing counselling at the Teddy Bear Clinic.

"The Gauteng march [is led] to raise awareness on the impact of gender-based violence in our society and to mobilise men to be protectors of women following the recent spate of taxi rapes and robberies within the Booysens and the Roodepoort policing precincts‚" said department spokesman Ndivhuho Gadisi.

"The MEC will interact with taxi drivers‚ commuters and then culminate at an open space opposite Booysens boxing club where there will be signing of the pledge‚" Gadisi said.