Riot Hlatshwayo
Riot Hlatshwayo
A dramatic high-speed car chase between a Mpumalanga police director, traffic cops and a reckless motorist left residents of KaBokweni township, near White River, open-mouthed yesterday.
The motorist, driving a VW Golf Chicco, apparently overtook about ten vehicles, including the director's, on a solid barrier line at about 8.30m. Police director Gert van Rooyen immediately gave chase in his Isuzu double-cab bakkie and about a kilometre further, the car turned towards the magistrates' court.
Unknown to the motorist, whose passenger was a candidate attorney, two traffic cops were on duty around the corner.
They saw a police officer in uniform chasing after the car and executed a U-turn. The Golf turned into another street with the two vehicles on its trail. It missed hitting children playing in the street by driving on the pavement. The traffic cops finally overtook Van Rooyen and managed to bring the Golf to a halt.
The driver allegedly became aggressive despite the traffic cops threatening to handcuff and arrest him if he did not apologise. Van Rooyen lost his patience and arrested him. "This is exactly what causes deaths on our roads," van Rooyen said.