Freedom Day cost Cope leader Mosiuoa Lekota’s driver his liberty – but only for a short while.
Party spokesman Noko Moloto said driver Sello Mpyaatona was arrested for parking without accreditation at the Union Buildings, where Lekota had been alongside President Jacob Zuma at the official Freedom Day celebrations.
Lekota said he had to pay a R686 fee to get his car released after it was impounded, and said he had not been provided with proper accreditation or parking stickers, despite being one of the official speakers.
The Cope president said people had recognised him on arrival and his car was allowed into the parking area. While he headed to the stage, his driver set off to find the necessary parking tags. On Mpyaatona’s return, however, the car was being impounded and he was taken to nearby police cells, Lekota said. The matter was swiftly resolved and no charges were brought against Mpyaatona.
Lekota said: “He (Mpyaatona) was upset about it and I was, too.”
As the official programme drew to a close yesterday, scores of luxury cars could be seen still illegally parked on pavements along Church Street. - Weekend Argus