Johannnesburg - A man claiming to be Western Cape public safety MEC Dan Plato was arrested for speeding around 2am on Sunday.
He was caught driving at 207km/h in a 120km/h zone along the N1 South near Midrand.
However, Johannesburg Metro Police Department spokesman chief superintendent Wayne Minnaar confirmed on Monday: “It wasn’t him. It’s someone else.”
The ‘MEC’ failed to stop for the officers, who then chased his gold Bentley and cut him off on Corlett Drive.
“He said he was coming from Pretoria and on his way Sandton,” said Minnaar, “He did smell of alcohol but was beneath the legal limit. The officers believed him, but still followed procedure.”
CONSTRUCTION EXECUTIVE
The man, who was alone in the car, was immediately arrested and taken to Midrand police station, where he was charged with reckless and negligent driving.
He was later released on R1500 bail. Minnaar said he would appear in the Randburg Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.
The impersonator, whose name is known to The Star, is the chief executive of a construction company. In 2002 he was named by ANC politician Tony Yengeni as his main benefactor.
He was then chief executive of a company that was implicated in a bribery scandal.
Yengeni had substantial shares in the company, and the executive was suspended following claims of bribery.
The Star