 
MEDIA STATEMENT
MEC BHEKI CELE CONDEMNS POLICE ATTACKThe KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison Mr Bheki Cele has condemned the assault of two traffic officers by maddened crowd at Umvoti Plaza in KwaDukuza this morning. Basil Naidoo and Quinton Gilbert were called in the area to remove people who were selling fruits along the tollgate as they were obstructing the traffic flow. On their arrival, the two officers instructed the venders to sell their goods in a structure that has been built by the South African National Roads Agency near the toll gate. As the officers were busy removing the venders, a group of people emerged from a nearby informal settlement and attacked them. While Gilbert sustained an open wound in the head, Naidoo sustained injuries in the ankle as he was being kicked while lying on the ground. The officers were treated at Stanger Hospital and discharged few hours later. A case of assault and robbery has been opened with the SAPS as Naidoo’s Cell phone and sunglasses were stolen. "We view the assault of these two officers as a serious criminal offence and I have spoken to the provincial police commissioner Hamilton Ngidi that no effort must be spared in tracking down these criminals. Once they have been arrested we will set an example that anyone who lay his hand on our law enforcers will not be treated with kid gloves," said Cele. Cele said that it was disturbing that this incident happened while the officers were trying to save the lives of people from any accident that could have arose there as they were obstructing the traffic. He said that traffic officers would continue to clamp down on people who are selling their goods along the road. Meanwhile, a driver who was traveling at 232km per hour along the N2 on the South Coast was caught by Road Traffic Inspectorate Officers. He is due to appear in Park Reynie Road Side Court near Umzinto later today.
|
