​By staff writer
MEC for Transport and Logistics, Kedibone Diale-Tlabela has commended the Gauteng Public Transport Intervention Unit (PTIU) following arrest of two suspects posing as taxi association patrol squad along the N4 highway in the City of Tshwane. This took place on Thursday,11 January 2024 during the #Fatela Road Safety operation.
Suspects were allegedly driving a vehicle displaying a false registration plate, fraudulent license disk as well as extortion. It is alleged the suspects operate along the N4 route where they would stop minibus taxis and threaten to impound vehicles if operators did not accede to a payment of a R2500 spot fine.
This was in response to complaints following a huge outcry about similar incidents taking place along the route over the past few months.
Said the MEC "the PTIU continues to play an important role in maintaining law and order in the public transport system. We welcome the arrest of the two suspects as these individuals pose a serious threat to the peaceful operation of minibus taxis in our province".
Officials also impounded two minibus taxis and took the sedan, suspected to be a stolen vehicle, to the Pretoria Vehicle Identification Service unit (VIS) for further investigation. 
The Department is set to continue conducting #Fatela road safety drives throughout January and beyond to encourage compliance in identified hotspots in the province. 
Its overall objective being to reduce the carnage through road safety education, encouraging responsible road usage and declaring zero tolerance to lawlessness and drunk driving. 
The PTIU, on the other hand, will continue to monitor and ensure compliance and visibility on provincial roads.