'Traffic cop humiliated me'

2007-12-13 20:03

Sydney Masinga

South Africa - A Limpopo municipality won't say whether it will take steps against a traffic cop who said a female taxi passenger was fat.

The woman then sued the Thulamela municipality. The Thohoyandou High Court ruled that the municipality pay the woman R50 000 for defamation of character.

"We have noted the judgment and the issue is being dealt with by our legal team. They will give us a clear indication on what to do next, finish and klaar, no more comment," said municipal spokesperson Moses Tsiila.

"We are not going to speculate on who will pay the money or what will happen to the traffic officer involved. We will do that when the time is right."

The taxi passenger, Lydia Tsanwani, 35, said that in December 2002 a municipal traffic cop stopped the taxi she was in and said she was too fat to be sitting in the front seat with the driver.

She was arrested and held in a police cell when she challenged the traffic cop. The case against her was later thrown out of court.

Tsanwani took the municipality to court for defamation of character, violation of dignity and unlawful arrest, and initially claimed R650 000 damages.

The Thohoyandou High Court ordered that she be paid R50 000.

Tsanwani said she was happy with the judgement, but would never forget the humiliation she suffered.

"I am happy that they were ordered to pay me, but that does not take away the humiliation that I felt that day. He just stopped the taxi and asked the driver why this fat woman was sitting in the front seat of the taxi," she said.

She added: "I hope the judgment will send a strong message out there that we are all God's children and we should treat each other with dignity and respect."

She said she had not been paid her R50 000 yet, but planned to invest the money.

- African Eye