Taxi patrollers sentenced after viral assault of hitchhikers

The five taxi patrollers who were filmed assaulting members of the public for hitchhiking in Bethal, Mpumalanga, have been sentenced for assault and damaging property. Philip Isaih Mahlangu, 57, Peter Mandla Mhlanga, 45, Machawe Samuel Mdluli, 26, Selby Wiseman Mtshweni, 47, and Tonono Patric Makhubedu, 40, were sentenced by the Bethal Magistrate’s Court after pleading guilty to three counts of assault and malicious injury to property. According to National Prosecuting Authority regional spokesperson Monica Nyuswa, the offences occurred on 12 December 2025.

She said in the first incident, a woman had been hitchhiking when she was approached by the taxi patrollers. The patrollers informed her that hitchhiking was not permitted and instructed her to return to the taxi rank. “When she explained that she was running late, the accused assaulted her, during which her cellphone was damaged,” Nyuswa said on Tuesday.

In the second incident, a mother and her 14-year-old daughter were assaulted by the same group after attempting to hitchhike. Nyuswa said they had decided to hitchhike after waiting for a long time with no movement at the taxi rank. A passenger who witnessed the assaults recorded the incidents on her cellphone.