Blue light police deliberately caused an accident with another vehicle to remonstrate with the driver, who had earlier given them the finger for frightening him with their driving and siren, a Westville couple say.
Jim Wichstrom was driving on the N2 to King Shaka International Airport on Saturday morning when, he says, he became the latest victim of the police’s VIP “blue light brigade”.
Wichstrom, who has 43 years experience in fire, disaster and emergency management, said a cavalcade of black cars – some with headlights on, some with blue lights flashing and some with both – sped past them on the freeway, close to the airport turnoff.
He said he had been driving in the middle lane after taking the turnoff when the driver of a black “kombi-like” vehicle, which appeared to be part of the cavalcade, came “dangerously close” behind him and suddenly switched on his siren, giving him a fright.
Wichstrom said he showed the occupants the middle finger and moved to the left lane. Suddenly the vehicle deliberately slowed down and swerved in front of him, resulting in a collision.
“They got out and acted like lunatics,” he said.
“They started prodding me and shoving me to the point that I became alarmed for the safety of my wife, my housekeeper and her husband,” he said.
Wichstrom said one of the policemen referred to his wife as “you bloody whites…”
None of the men wore name badges, they refused to identify themselves and would not allow him to take the vehicle’s details from the licence disc. All he got was the number on the registration plate.
The officers drove away when they received a message on the radio saying “he’s landed”. However, Wichstrom had no idea who they were supposed to guard or fetch at the airport.
He reported the accident to police at the airport and said he planned to lay charges of assault, reckless and negligent driving, and malicious damage to property.
Police Captain Thulani Zwane said Wichstrom should open a case so that the matter could be investigated.
Earlier this month, the Pietermaritzburg High Court heard that members of the police VIP protection unit were trained to “eliminate” any motorist perceived to be a threat, whether or not a dignitary was with them.
Martin Thulani Khanyile was testifying on behalf of VIP officer Hlanganani Nxumalo, who faces six charges of attempted murder and one of unlawfully discharging a firearm on the N3 near Ashburton in 2008.
It is alleged that Nxumalo fired two shots at a car, causing the driver, Anuvasen Moodley, to lose control of the vehicle, which then veered over the median and into oncoming traffic, colliding with a bakkie.
Nxumalo was a passenger in a black VW Golf with flashing blue lights, on its way to pick up MEC Meshack Radebe.
He said the warning shots were fired because he felt his life was in danger as Moodley’s car had switched lanes and had tried to push them off the road.
- The Mercury, Page 3