The national Minister of Transport, Barbara Creecy, wants those involved in the death of Luvuyo Vimba, a minibus taxi driver from Cape Town, to be held accountable. Vimba died last Friday after a violent altercation with local law enforcement and SAPS officers.

According to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID), the incident began on Friday around 18:30, when Cape Town Railway SAPS officers engaged in a confrontation with Vimba. During the altercation, one officer allegedly assaulted him with a sjambok, leading Vimba to retaliate by punching the officer. He then fled but was pursued and eventually apprehended by SAPS officers and law enforcement personnel.

“He was transported to Railway police station in the Law enforcement van. Later an ambulance was called to attend to the victim that had multiple injuries. Vimba was transported to Groote Schuur [Hospital, where] he succumbed to his injuries the following day at approximately 10:00,” said IPID spokeperson, Phaladi Shuping.

IPID spokesperson, Phaladi Shuping, says a post-mortem report confirmed that Vimba died as a result of multiple blunt force trauma and “application of force to the neck”.

A murder case was registered with Woodstock police.

Creecy extended her sympathies to Vimba’s family and called for immediate accountability. She urged Cape Town mayor, Geordin Hill-Lewis, to launch an independent investigation into his death and examine allegations of excessive force by law enforcement.

“This incident is unfortunate for the reputation of law enforcement officers who are entrusted with the responsibility to protect members of the society, yet are finding themselves at the centre of such a controversy… The fact that his family was only able to find Mr. Vimba on Monday raises more questions than answers,” noted Transport Department spokesperson, Collen Msibi.

The City’s JP Smith says it is investigating the incident, but believes that local law enforcement officers have acted within the parameters of the law. He says law enforcement officers were providing SAPS officers with “tactical cover” on the day of the incident.

“For the record, on Friday, 1 November, at approximately 19:00, the South African Police Service requested Law Enforcement support in Strand Street in the CBD. A shot had been heard, and SAPS officers had identified a suspect. However, based on information at our disposal, bystanders and taxi drivers tried to run interference…. While the circumstances surrounding the incident are not entirely clear, any loss of life is tragic.”

Makhosandile Tumana, the spokesperson for taxi association, SANTACO, condemned the incident in the strongest terms. He says this is not the first time taxi drivers have come under attack by those meant to uphold the law.

“The killing of Mr Luvuyo Vimba follows many incidents. This kind of behaviour is injustice so we demand that those police officers seen on the video must be brought to book.”

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