Durban - A DA district councillor is facing charges of interference with police work after allegedly refusing a parking ticket and damaging a police vehicle.
Elleanor Peterson, 38, an uMgungundlovu councillor, was arrested after an altercation with metro police outside a popular Florida Road restaurant on Thursday night.
She has since resigned as a councillor.
According to police spokesman, Captain Thulani Zwane, Peterson’s vehicle was obstructing traffic and a ticket was placed on her windscreen. “She took the ticket and threw it away and started swearing at the police officers,” said Zwane.
He said she then went inside the police van, removed the traffic cones and began kicking and damaging the vehicle.
Peterson said on Tuesday that she had reacted after allegedly being manhandled and pepper sprayed by police.
She said she had popped into the restaurant to change quickly after getting wet at a Durban shopping centre.
She said after one of the officers called her a “DA b****”, she became scared for her life. “I fought to get as much attention hoping someone would help but the crowd just stood back,” she said.
After allegedly being pepper sprayed and forced into the back of the van, she said she kicked the windows and doors out of fear.
Metro police spokesman, Eugene Msomi, said he could not comment on the matter because it was now before the courts.
Peterson was to have appeared in the Durban Magistrate’s Court on Monday but she had not and a warrant for her arrest had been issued, said National Prosecuting Authority spokeswoman Natasha Ramkisson.
“Her mother approached the court, saying that Elleanor was admitted in hospital,” said Ramkisson. However, the warrant still stands until August 26 when Peterson is due to appear.
The DA’s provincial leader, Sizwe Mchunu, said he was not aware of the incident but was trying to find out what had happened. “Once we get those facts, we will determine if there is a basis for disciplinary action,” Mchunu said.
Mchunu said he was also not aware of Peterson’s claim that she had resigned as councillor.
Said Peterson: “Politics is a cut-throat and evil business. I’m resigning on principle.”
Daily News