The arrests were made on Christmas Day and Family Day, last year. It formed part of the City of Windhoek Traffic Management Unit's ongoing 'Operation Shape-Up' campaign aimed at curbing illegal taxi operations.

A media release isssued by the Head of the Traffic Management Unit, Eliphas Owos-Oab yesterday, stated that the month of December usually saw the resurfacing of pirate taxis, particularly by taxi drivers who are wanted for contempt of court on account of accumulating warrants of arrest.

During the same campaign, 298 individuals were charged with driving vehicles without a valid driver's licenses, while a total of 600 motorists were served with tickets on account of illegal stopping and parking offences.

From a total of five-thousand-754 vehicles examined at mini-roadblocks throughout the city, 76 were found unroadworthy.

The further driving of these vehicles was suspended.