Pretoria - A Limpopo man is claiming R580 000 in damages from the province's MEC for roads and transport after three traffic officials allegedly tried to strangle him and "stabbed" him with a pen because he apparently refused to pay them a bribe.
The Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, gave Lodewikus de Klerk, 49, the green light to continue with his claim, although the prescribed time had expired.
De Klerk said in court papers that he was travelling in his vehicle along a road close to Matoks in Limpopo during November 2011, when he was stopped by three traffic officials. They accused him of committing a traffic offence and allegedly demanded a bribe.
He said that when he refused to pay a bribe, they hit him with their fists and open hands, all across his body.
According to De Klerk, the traffic officials also tried to strangle him, twisted his arm behind his back and repeatedly stabbed him with a pen in his lower body.
He suffered puncture wounds on his body, swelling of his right wrist, a head injury, as well as multiple bruises.
He had to undergo medical treatment in hospital and will have to undergo further treatment at a later stage.
De Klerk said he immediately reported the incident and a criminal case was also opened against the officials and the chief prosecutor in Thohoyandou gave notice of the intention to prosecute the three.
It is not clear what happened to the criminal case, but De Klerk said it was only later that he was told that he could institute a damages claim against the department of roads and transport - the trio's employer. He also explained that he was a lay person regarding to the law and did not know his rights.
His severely traumatised state also contributed to to his delay in launching the claim.
The department, apart from denying liability, asked the court not to allow De Klerk to proceed with his case, as his claim time had lapsed. The court, however, gave him the go-ahead.
Pretoria News