A Cape Town mother says she feared for her life and that of her one-year-old daughter after a taxi driver allegedly threatened to kill her during a road rage incident on Wetton Road.
Raabiah Abrahams said the incident happened at about 16:00 on Saturday, 10 October, while she was driving home from a coffee shop.
Her daughter was strapped into the back seat when the confrontation began. Abrahams said the trouble started after she refused to give way to the taxi driver.
According to Abrahams, the driver then tried to knock her car, sped off and repeatedly slammed on his brakes as she tried to keep control of her vehicle.
She said she slowed down because she was afraid for her safety and that of her child. The driver allegedly stopped on a bridge, blocked traffic and waited for her.
Abrahams said he walked up to her vehicle and started shouting at her in another language before switching to English.
“I will kill you,” he allegedly said.
“I unfortunately only speak English and very minimal Afrikaans,” Abrahams said.
The incident happened about 1.3km from her home. Abrahams said that, with her daughter in the car, she had to decide whether to call her husband or record the confrontation.
Knowing that he would not reach her in time, she chose to record a video as evidence.
The video shows the driver near her vehicle during the confrontation, according to Abrahams. She said recording the incident was the quickest way to document what was happening while her baby was in the car.
Her daughter, she said, was “completely unaware of the situation”.
The incident has left Abrahams afraid to drive on her own. She said she now waits for her husband to drive her wherever she needs to go.
“I am now too scared to drive anywhere alone,” she said.
“I now rather wait on my husband to drive me to where I need to be.”
Abrahams has not yet opened a police case but said she plans to report the matter. She said it had been difficult to find the time while looking after her children and managing everyday responsibilities.
She said she was considering different ways of reporting the incident and intended to provide the video and details of what happened to police.
The Western Cape Mobility Department urged motorists to report road rage incidents to the South African Police Service.
Muneera Allie, spokesperson for the department, said violent or intimidating conduct should be treated as criminal behaviour rather than an ordinary traffic dispute.
“Violent, hostile, or intimidating behaviour is classified as criminal behaviour,” Allie said.
She said the driving conduct described by Abrahams could also amount to traffic offences.
“Traffic violations such as speeding, tailgating, abrupt braking or abrupt lane changes are traffic offences.”
The department said the matter would not fall under the responsibility of traffic authorities unless there had been a collision.
“The investigation of road rage incidents falls under SAPS,” Allie said.
She said provincial or local traffic authorities would generally become involved if the incident resulted in a crash.
The department advised motorists to remain calm, avoid engaging with or retaliating against aggressive drivers and, where it was safe to do so, note the vehicle registration number, location, time and details of the incident.
Motorists who believe they are being followed are advised to avoid stopping in an isolated area. They should drive to a busy public place or police station and call for help when it is safe to do so.
The Western Cape Mobility Department has previously warned that speeding, dangerous manoeuvres and other reckless driving behaviour place road users at risk. In an official road-safety update issued in January, the department recorded 23 fatal incidents and 25 deaths on provincial roads during the 2025 festive-season return period.
The update also recorded more than 350 speeding offences. The department called on motorists to obey speed limits, avoid driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, remain patient in traffic and share the road responsibly.
Abrahams said no collision occurred during the Wetton Road incident, but the alleged driving and confrontation placed her and her child in danger. She said the repeated braking made it difficult to keep control while she was trying to get home.
She said she had been driving normally when the disagreement over giving way escalated. The driver allegedly followed her, stopped on the bridge and confronted her while her daughter remained in the vehicle.
The alleged threat was made while the child was inside the car, although Abrahams said the one-year-old did not understand what was happening.
If a police case is opened, the video may be submitted as part of the complaint. Police would also be able to assess the recording, identify the vehicle and driver and determine whether criminal or traffic charges should follow.
No arrest or charge has been announced. The taxi driver has not publicly responded to Abrahams’s allegations.
Abrahams said the incident had changed her routine. She now waits for her husband to accompany her when she needs to travel, particularly when she has her daughter with her.
The Western Cape Mobility Department said road rage incidents must be reported to SAPS because threats and intimidation fall under police investigation. The department urged motorists to prioritise their safety and avoid confronting aggressive drivers.