Scandal over top ANC man's arrest
2010-03-11 23:23
Cape Town - A confrontation is looming between authorities in Cape Town because Saps officials didn't want to arrest Jackson Mthembu for drunk driving "because he's high up in the ANC" after metro police apprehended him.
The Cape Town metro council has asked Western Cape MEC for safety and security, Lennit Max, to investigate the fact that police initially refused to arrest Mthembu.
Allegedly case numbers were also tampered with, and metro police officials were threatened with arrest by the Saps.
The police did not want to comment and merely confirmed the arrest of Mthembu, chief spokesperson for the ANC and member of the national executive committee.
Turbulent week
The arrest took place in a turbulent week for the ANC, during which Winnie Madikizela-Mandela lashed out at the party and former president Nelson Mandela, ANC youth league leader Julius Malema sang a controversial song, and Brian Sokutu, a spokesperson, was suspended.
Gwede Mantashe, secretary-general of the ANC, who also had to lead a crisis meeting between the ANC and the SACP on Thursday, said they will not be taking steps against Mthembu at this stage.
"Let's first hear his side of the story. Crucifying him now won't do anybody any good."
According to J P Smith, mayoral committee member for safety and security, Mthembu was pulled off the N2 inbound to Cape Town at 07:50 on Thursday.
Metro police officials became suspicious when they smelt his breath. He was taken to the city's new Safely Home Anti Drunk Driving Operations War Room (Shadow) in Athlone, where his blood alcohol level was tested.
His blood alcohol level was 0.87mg per 100 millilitre - almost four times the legal limit of 0.24mg per millilitre.
Test recorded
The Shadow centre is technologically highly advanced and the entire process was recorded, should any accusations concerning the procedures arise later, said Smith.
Mthembu was taken from the centre to the Mowbray police station.
The trouble started when the Saps threatened to arrest the metro police officials who wanted to have Mthembu arrested.
Metro police management eventually asked the Saps station commander to make sure a docket is opened for Mthembu.
According to Smith, however, the Saps case numbers were tampered with and the metro police had to correct them.
"It is extremely worrying because it appears the police didn't want to arrest Mthembu simply because he's a high-level ANC official. It was only once the station commander's co-operation was requested that the process could be completed," said Smith.
Mthembu was released on R500 bail and will appear in the Wynberg Magistrate's Court on March 24 on a charge of drunk driving.