Dozi's arrest 'the Lord's way'

2007-12-20 07:33

Sonika Johnston

Mossel Bay - "It may have been the Lord's way of telling me not to drive any further," says singer Dozi about his arrest after a family get-together.

That's how the popular 41-year-old singer described his arrest while driving home after a festive get-together on Tuesday night in Mossel Bay, at which copious amounts of liquor were consumed.

Dozi married 22-year-old Muriel Lategan of Morreesburg at a posh celebration earlier this year,

He had to spend the night in police cells on Tuesday night, but was taken out in the morning and sang for the police.

Malcolm Pojie of Southern Cape police has confirmed a motorist was being charged with drunken driving after being stopped at about 23:40 in Louis Fourie Road in Mossel Bay.

"There's a suspicion the blood-alcohol level in the driver's blood exceeded the legal limit."

Court case in April

Pojie did not want to confirm that the arrested driver was Dozi, because the suspect still had to appear in court.

Dozi, real name Henk Opperman, was taken to the police cells at Mossel Bay for a blood sample to be taken.

Dozi spent the night in the holding cells and was released on Wednesday morning pending the results of his test. He was warned to appear in Mossel Bay Magistrate's Court on April 2.

His agent, Calla Shutzler, did not want to comment on the incident when contacted on Wednesday.

"I think it's better that you speak to Dozi, himself, so that he can say if wants anything published about this."

According to Ilza Roggeband, Dozi's spokesperson, the singer was alone in the car on the way home after a family dinner, when he approached an amber traffic light.

"It was a quiet area and he decided to proceed. But the light was red when he drove through the crossing.

"He was pulled off and, according to one police officer, he was arrogant, but Dozi said he was just trying to explain why he didn't stop."

Roggeband said Dozi was taken to the police station, where he spent the night.

"He was collected from the cell early on Wednesday morning by one of the officers and joined the station's scripture reading and prayers.

Was treated well by cops

"Dozi then sang Our Father to them in Zulu without accompaniment."

He was then released.

He said: "I suppose it was the Lord's way of telling me I shouldn't be behind the wheel."

"I met a couple of interesting guys in the cells and can't complain about my treatment at the hands of the police. They do unbelievable work and I will always support them."

- Die Burger