Tow-truck owner’s rape threat tirade

Foul-mouthed businessman threatens to f*** up insurance assessor’s children, life

AFOUL-mouthed businessman with a knack for landing himself in trouble is once again under investigation – for threatening to have an insurance assessor raped.

Uitenhage police have opened a case of intimidation, crimen injuria and common assault against V&R Auto owner Raven Rungan, 42, for threats made over the telephone to Motor Assessing Services assessor Norman Hickson.

The investigation stems from vile threats allegedly made by Rungan to Hickson and his children simply because he did not like Hickson’s recommendations.

The three-minute phone conversation was recorded and has been heard by Weekend Post.

V&R Auto has offices in Johannesburg, Port Elizabeth and East London. In the recording, a man who identifies himself as Rungan threatens to make Hickson’s life “a living f***ing hellhouse”.

“I will f*** with your family now. Your life is f***ed. I will get black people to rape you,” he can be heard saying. “Whenever you move you going to wonder what is going to happen … when your car is going to get burnt ... when your house is going to get burnt … when your children are going to get f***ed up ... I am telling you now watch every f***ing step.”

Hickson’s garage at his Uitenhage home was petrolbombed on Thursday morning and he is offering a R10 000 reward for information concerning who was responsible.

Rungan has responded by offering five times as much – R50 000 – for the successful prosecution and conviction of the culprit.

Rungan’s attorney, Kuban Chetty, said: “Mr Rungan was in East London when this incident purportedly took place.

“He feels that there are other factors that are at play and for this reason he is prepared to offer a reward of R50 000 for information leading to the successful arrest, prosecution and conviction of the person/s involved in this incident with specific attention on the instigator thereof.”

The doors of Hickson’s garage were set alight. “I cannot believe that someone else coincidentally tries to set my garage alight shortly after the threats that man has made,” said Hickson.

Police spokesman Warrant Officer Basil Seekoei said a case of arson was being investigated.

The phone call came after Hickson was hired by the South African Post Office to evaluate work done by V&R Auto. Hickson reported back that they should only pay R90 000 of the R190 000 claimed for repairs to a Volkswagen Transporter.

Because of this, Hickson was berated and told his “hands and leg” would be broken in the recorded conversation.

“You an old c*** … an old white racist c***. I will catch you and f*** you up.”

Rungan also allegedly urged Hickson to get a pro- tection order from the police. “You look over your f***ing head wherever you move . . . your family and your children . . . I am going to f*** with you now.”

During the conversation Hickson was also told that if anything did happen to his children the Uitenhage assessor could only blame himself. “You brought this on yourself. I don’t give a f***. I am going to f*** with your children.”

Weekend Post approached three close associates of Rungan’s who all confirmed it was the owner of V&R Auto in the recording.

Chetty responded yesterday saying: “My client cannot comment at this stage since he does not have knowledge of the nature, content and veracity of the charges levelled against him.

“We need to first investigate the police docket to determine the allegations and evidence as contained therein.”

South African Post Office chief operating officer Mlu Mathonsi confirmed Rungan’s company was commissioned to repair the vehicle. “The Post Office is in

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the process of verifying the work done to the vehicle and it would be premature to comment before the process is complete but we view fraud or any act which infringes on the Public Finance Management Act very seriously.”

Meanwhile Hickson has taken measures to ensure his safety. He said the house was now under 24-hour surveillance. Since the first threats were made he has secured a protection order against Rungan.

“If Rungan phones me he will be arrested. Even if he sends someone else to try and speak to me about finding a peaceful solution. I am not interested.”

Uitenhage police spokeswoman Warrant Officer Gerda Swart said the alleged rant took place on April 16.

“The complainant has already made a statement to the police through his attorney. The suspect has yet to appear in court. Because of his busy work schedule, he was given two weeks in which to make his statement,” Swart said.

She said once this was done, the docket would be forwarded to the office of the public prosecutor.