Driver got angry after she declined to get in, because there were only male passengers and she was concerned about her safety

A Cape Town woman was assaulted by a taxi driver after she refused to get into his taxi, the Western Cape ministry of transport said.

“The assault took place at approximately 5pm on Friday, at the corner of Eisleben and Lansdowne roads,” spokesman for the ministry Siphesihle Dube said in a statement.

The woman hailed a taxi, but when she saw there were only male passengers, she apologised to the driver and declined to enter.

The taxi driver allegedly started shouting at her, got out of his taxi and hit her repeatedly with his fists for wasting his time before driving away.

“The taxi driver is a Xhosa male who drives a white Toyota Avanza or similar amaphela-type taxi with strongly tinted windows.”

Dube said the woman sustained bruises to her face, but was not admitted to hospital.

“It is hard to adequately describe how appalling this crime is,” said head of ministry Hector Eliott, adding that public transport should be safe for everyone.

“We need to find this taxi driver, and I appeal to anyone who may have witnessed these events or have any knowledge of the incident to come forward as soon as possible,” Eliott said.