Cop attack 'unacceptable'
2008-12-17 16:50
Johannesburg - The South African Police Union (Sapu) on Wednesday called for a harsh sentence to be imposed on a motorist who assaulted a Johannesburg metro police officer on the M1.
The motorist punched a female metro police officer in the face while she was ticketing him for talking on his cellphone while driving.
"This attack was probably a sexist attack on a female officer doing her job. All people are the same," said Oscar Skommere, acting general secretary of Sapu.
"There is no room for any kind of attack on law enforcers who are doing their jobs," he said.
Skommere said police officers worked in severe and dangerous circumstances.
"When we conduct roadblocks we are either shot at or deliberately hit by motorists. Attacks like these are totally unacceptable... This motorist must be given a harsh and a lengthy jail term."
Johannesburg metro police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Wayne Minnaar said the officer was one of three female metro police officers on motorcycles who spotted the driver of a white Toyota Corolla talking on his cellphone.
The officers pulled the driver over near the Smit Sreet offramp. While giving him a ticket, the driver attacked the officer. The three officers then arrested the driver.
The driver would appear in the Johannesburg Magistrate's Court on Thursday on a charge of assault.
- SAPA