Mazibuko incident: Official off the hook

2012-11-22 19:36

Lindiwe Mazibuko. (Picture: Die Burger)

Johannesburg - Charges against a Sadtu official who allegedly tried to run over DA parliamentary leader Lindiwe Mazibuko have been dropped, the party said on Thursday.

"The DA is not satisfied with the decision of the Zwelitsha Regional Court Prosecutor to drop charges of reckless and negligent driving as well as attempted murder against [the] Sadtu member..." provincial chairperson Edmund van Vuuren said in a statement.

The Democratic Alliance laid charges against SA Democratic Teachers Union Hewu branch chairperson Honjiswa Mrwebi in April after she allegedly tried to hit Mazibuko with her car in Whittlesea, Eastern Cape.

On 13 April, Mazibuko was participating in a 12km walk to highlight problems with scholar transport in the area when Mrwebi allegedly drove towards her.

Questions

Van Vuuren said the DA wanted answers on why the charges were dropped.

"We cannot send out the message that it is OK to revert to violence when you are in disagreement with other people.

"By not allowing this case to be heard, the court may be setting a precedent that a blind eye will be turned to acts of violence against members of the DA during our campaigns and protest actions," he said.

At the time, Mazibuko said she was unperturbed by the incident.

"It was a non-event. When we were walking on the road the occasional car would pass by and I remember one almost hitting me, but I was not aware of some evil plot," she said.

"I didn't realise who was behind the wheel. I wasn't aware of a plot to harm me. We were not trying to engage this rogue teacher who was trying to create some sort of a ruckus.... I don't really care either way."

Confirmation from the National Prosecuting Authority that the case was dropped could not be immediately obtained.

- SAPA