Attempted murder charge for taxi driver

Taximan ‘beat up cop after trying to run her over’

A 26-year-old taxi driver who allegedly assaulted and attempted to run over a metro police officer last week has been charged with attempted murder.

Khulani Dludlu also faces an additional charge of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm after he allegedly assaulted JMPD officer Nompumelelo Salley, who was directing traffic.

The taxi driver, who is out on R5 000 bail, appeared in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court yesterday. He was arrested last Friday on the corner of Houghton Drive and Houghton Avenue in Johannesburg after the incident.

It is alleged that instead of stopping as directed by Salley, the taxi driver accelerated towards her, leaving the officer holding on to the taxi’s wiper blades as he continued driving forward.

Two other officers who were in the vicinity came to Salley’s rescue. But then Dludlu allegedly charged at Salley, beating her up after he was ordered to leave his vehicle.

Prosecutor Coleen Ryan told the court to tighten Dludlu’s bail conditions, citing that the added charge of attempted murder was more serious than the one he faced when he was initially granted bail by the police. Ryan also asked the court to prohibit Dludlu or any one close to him from contacting Salley.

The prosecutor also wanted Dludlu to be confined to Gauteng and to report to the nearest police station twice a week.

“The initial bail was granted for assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm.