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Mmemezi ordered blue lights

Gauteng housing MEC Humphrey Mmemezi. PHOTO: BAFANA MAHLANGU
Gauteng housing MEC Humphrey Mmemezi. PHOTO: BAFANA MAHLANGU

Former Gauteng MEC Humphrey Mmemezi ordered the blue lights on his car to be switched on before an accident with motorcyclist Thomas Ferreira, the Krugersdorp Magistrate's Court heard on Thursday.

This was the instruction to his driver Joseph Semitjie before they left the MEC's house on the day of the accident in November 2011.

"We did not use blue lights because we wanted to, the MEC told us to do so," Semitjie's then colleague and work partner Nomakhosi Onica Mashifane told the court.

Semitjie faces charges of reckless or negligent driving, and failing to assist an injured person.

Mashifane, who also did not complete her advanced driving course, said they did not stop at stop signs while they were transporting the MEC to his meeting, because they were in a hurry.

She said that when they arrived at Paardekraal Drive in Krugersdorp they switched on the siren to alert other motorists.

"The motorists from different directions came to a stop because of the siren, and we realised that it was safe for us to proceed driving," Mashifane said.

As they continued driving they heard a noise coming from the left side of the vehicle.

"We had already passed the intersection when we heard the noise and it turned out that our vehicle was hit on the rear left side," said Mashifane.

Ferreira was on his motorcycle when Semitjie allegedly drove his BMW X5 left of the yellow line in Paardekraal Drive, and disregarded a red traffic light.

Ferreira, who was on Windsor Road, collided with the car.

The case continues.

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