Johannesburg - A local soccer star was arrested during the early hours of Monday for allegedly driving recklessly on the N1 North.
“The police realised that the driver was under the influence of alcohol and unsteady,” said Gauteng police spokesman Captain Tsekiso Mofokeng.
Police then asked the soccer player who was clearly intoxicated to produce his driver's licence.
“The driver became violent and assaulted an on-duty police officer on the face with his hands and car keys,” said Mofokeng.
The suspect was overpowered and arrested for assaulting the police officer, drunken driving and resisting arrest.
Police would not name him as he had not yet appeared in court but added that he was believed to be a professional soccer player for a local team. He's due to appear in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.
Mofokeng said the assaulted officer was “fine”. “They were just trying to talk with him and he became violent. The police officer was seen by a doctor but he's okay.”
In a separate incident last week, a former Orlando Pirates and Bafana Bafana soccer player was arrested for car theft.
The former star, Steve Lekoelea, was driving in Orange Farm, south of Joburg, at about 2pm on Tuesday when traffic officers nabbed him. He was alone in the car at time.
Allegations are that police found that the white hatchback VW Polo had a fake licence plate and a fake licence disc.
Lekoelea is being held at Orange Farm police station. This morning police were still unsure when he would be appearing in court.
The Star