Francesca Villette
and Jason Felix
A VIOLENT attack on a city motorist has sparked outrage in the cycling community.
Dramatic video footage of a group of cyclists who sprayed pepper spray at a driver, and hit and damaged his minibus along Beach Road in Sea Point surfaced on Facebook yesterday.
By late last night the video clip had been watched by over 17 000 viewers.
Symon Scott, who was driving past when the incident took place, grabbed his cellphone and filmed the incident.
“I fumbled with my phone for valuable seconds, and eventually got the camera going and filmed the violence unfolding before me.
“You can clearly see how they battered the vehicle, bent the windscreen wipers, pepper-sprayed the driver, tried to steal his keys, assaulted him with a bicycle wheel and punched him and his passenger in the face repeatedly,” Scott posted on Facebook.
Scott said some cyclists had encroached over the centre lane into the right-hand lane. Further down the road, the vehicle was double-parked, he said.
“The group (cyclists) were moving swiftly, and only at the last second, when the leader again faced forwards, did he see the vehicle just in the nick of time.
“He had to swerve to avoid the vehicle and this obviously upset him. He stopped his bicycle abruptly and flew into a violent rage. The entire group pulled up in support and some
followed his lead,” Scott said.
Pedal Power Association spokesman Steve Hayward said the men who attacked the driver were wearing Muhammadeyah Cycling Club and Bellville Cycling Club vests. He has asked the clubs for a written explanation by today.
“I was horrified after seeing the video. The attack is not to be treated lightly,” said Hayward. He said the association would decide whether to take disciplinary action after it had heard from the clubs.
Police spokesman Frederick van Wyk said: “A case of common assault and malicious damage to property was opened at Sea Point police station on Sunday by the 20-year-old driver…”
Graham Ward, chairman of Western Province Cycling, of which Bellville Cycling club is an affiliate, said if the cyclists belonged to the club, disciplinary action would be taken.
David Bellairs, chief executive of the Cape Town Cycle Tour Trust, said once the cyclists were identified, and if found guilty, they would be banned from the cycle tour taking place this weekend.
Muhammadeyah Cycling Club could not be reached.
To view the video, see https://www.facebook.com/CapeTimes. Anyone with information can call 021 430 3700, Crime Stop at 08600 10111 or SMS Crimeline at 32211.
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