Traffic cops fracas triggers ‘racial hatred’

EL motorist claims he was assaulted by officials and presses charges

An East London man says he now has “racial hatred” towards coloured and black people after he was allegedly assaulted by traffic officers.

Car mechanic Gary Audie, 62, of Sunnyridge opened a criminal case at the Mdantsane NU1 police station complaining of assault by provincial traffic officers after he was stopped at the Voortrekker Road on Wednesday.

However, what was supposed to be a normal traffic observation ended in a scuffle, with one officer allegedly tightening the handcuffs until he bled.

This, Audie claims, was because the officer demanded his phone after he tried to take pictures of them.

Audie, who said he had a “sh*tty day”, had wanted to know why the officers had specifically stopped his van.

After an exchange of words, one black officer allegedly told Audie to “go to “f***en hell! You miserable bastard!”.

“I immediately came out of my van and went to another officer who had heard his colleague’s remarks to me. I asked him what he would do about it.

“But the heavy coloured guy physically grabbed me and told me to leave. He escorted me to my van and told me he was not scared of me,” Audie said.

When he got to his van again, Audie took his cellphone and tried to take pictures of the two officers. However, says Audie, a third officer alerted his colleagues.

“The heavy coloured guy threatened to arrest me and I said he should arrest me. He took my one hand and put a handcuff on it. I told him he was hurting me and asked him if he was trying to break my hand. He kept on twisting my hand and it was swelling and skin was coming off it,” he said.

Audie said the incident had badly affected him and his injured arm was preventing him from working.

“This has created a racial hatred within me. It has hurt me, I can’t trust the government now. My arm is numb, I can’t feel anything in my injured arm,” said Audie.

Police spokesperson Captain Nkosikho Mzuku confirmed that the police were investigating a case of assault with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

“The circumstances surrounding the incident are not clear at this stage; investigation continues. No arrests have been made so far,” said Mzuku.

Provincial transport spokesperson Unathi Binqose said: “Nothing has been brought forward to the department’s attention with regards to the incident. However we don't support violence on the roads – not against our officers and not done by them.

“We are still waiting to be contacted. Then we will investigate the incident and check the legitimacy of the claims.”