Court hears litany of racial abuse in road rage incident

THE Wynberg Magistrate’s Court heard yesterday how a motorist called another “a k**** r” after snatching the man’s keys from the ignition of his car during a traffic jam which resulted from an accident in Hout Bay.

It was the 16th race-related case in the court in the past six months, State prosecutor Rahidien Cullis told the court yesterday.

He named the two men as Erik Neethling, 33, from Muizenberg, and Zenzele Moloi, 42, from Constantia.

The incident occurred during a traffic jam on September 21. Police arrested and released Neethling on Thursday.

He was charged crimen injuria.

Cullis told the court they would in future oppose bail for anyone appearing in connection with race-related attacks.

Of the latest incident, he said: “There was a queue of cars... The complainant (Moloi) then switched off his vehicle. The accused (Neethling) came from behind the complainant and approached the complainant’s vehicle.

“He put his hand through the window and took out the key. He told the complainant, ‘What are you going to do, you f*****g k*****r?’ He took the key and walked away. He told the complainant, ‘ F** k you k****r’.

“Then the complainant got out of his car and wanted the key. The accused went back to his car with the complainant’s key and the complainant followed him. A woman (in the

with accused’s car) told the accused to give the complainant’s key back.

“He took the key and threw it at the complainant, and then said: ‘K****r, take the f**king key’.”

Cullis said Moloi went to police “because his dignity was impaired”. “He felt humiliated.” Cullis told the court the accused denied the incident.

Moloi’s employer, on whose property he lives in Constantia, submitted an affidavit to the court, stating that he was “hon-

‘He put his hand

est” and “reliable”.

Moloi has been living on their estate for the past 21 years, with access to their house and cars. “We regard him as part of our family. He works and resides at our house in Constantia. We travel extensively and it is critical our house is in good hands,” they said in court papers.

The case was postponed to February 26.