On 26 June 2025, a taxi driver brutally stabbed motorist Zain Pandey at the Canon and Voortrekker Roads intersection in Maitland, Cape Town. A viral video captured the attack, sparking outrage and scrutiny of the taxi industry. Authorities arrested the 28-year-old driver for the Maitland stabbing incident.
Video Reveals Violent Road Rage
The Maitland stabbing incident began when a Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association (CATA) driver clashed with 47-year-old Zain Pandey. The video shows the driver dragging Pandey from his car, pinning him down, and stabbing him eight times with an Okapi knife.
Jameelah Pandey, the victim’s sister, said the driver’s reckless actions, like cutting off her brother while using a cellphone, triggered the confrontation. “Allah’s mercy spared his major organs,” she noted, crediting a thick hoodie for preventing fatal neck injuries.
Police Arrest and Charge Suspect
Sikhweza surrendered to police and appeared in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court on 16 July. The SAPS Taxi Violence Unit investigated after the Maitland stabbing incident video spread widely. A detective collected Pandey’s affidavit while he recovered from emergency surgery for internal bleeding.
Victim Rejects Racism Claims
Sikhweza alleged Pandey used a racial slur and started physical contact.
Pandey, a Wynberg resident, firmly denied this, saying, “I never used the K-word or struck him.” He confirmed eight stab wounds, not two as the suspect claimed, and voiced fears for his family’s safety.
Taxi Industry Condemns Attack
Mandla Hermanus, SANTACO Western Cape chairperson, called the Maitland stabbing incident “barbaric” and banned the driver from operating under their association. Authorities identified the taxi owner through association stickers on the vehicle.
