On Tuesday afternoon an accident on Skirving Street in Tzaneen erupted with a crowd of bystanders allegedly assaulting the driver and passenger of the vehicle.
Clive Jones and Martie De Bruto told Herald they were in Skirving Street driving in a south easterly direction when a motorcycle allegedly turned right in front of them. The driver was knocked off the motorcycle and Jones got out of his car to see if the driver was injured. A group of bystanders started to assault him. De Bruto also got out of the car to help him. In the chaos that followed, De Bruto told Jones to get back into the car and drive away. “I was scared for my life,” said Jones.
De Bruto was left at the scene and the bystanders started to assault her by hitting her with fists, an emotional De Bruto told Herald. Two employees from Trophy Tyres came to her rescue. “A passing (maroon) car stopped and the Trophy employees tried to get me into the car, but the crowd started to push and shove the car too,” she said. The car drove off.
When police and security companies arrived on the scene, the crowd dispersed. De Bruto got hold of Jones at Adams Cafe in Peace Street.
Jones said he drove directly to Adam’s Café as the motorcyclist was from Adams. An ambulance took them both to Van Velden Hospital. Jones has injuries on his face and his right eye is inured.
A video of the incident shows how the (maroon) car is being attacked with people screaming at the driver.
Police confirmed the incident. They said a Honda motorcycle collided with a silver Hyundai car. The motorcycle was coming from Van Velden Hospital direction. “The motorcycle driver indicated to turn right, facing the taxi rank. He allegedly did not had the right of way and turned in front of the Hyundai. When the police arrived they only found the motorcycle and people had dispersed. The motorcyclist was taken to Van Velden Hospital,” said Sgt Maurice Nkwashu, spokesperson for police in Tzaneen.
A case of reckless driving and negligence have been opened.
Jones and De Bruto said they were going to lay charges of assault at the police. She said she wanted to thank everyone who helped them during their ordeal. “The ambulance man and Wynand and Lukas from Trophy Tyres were wonderful.”
She is also looking for the young man who took a video of the incident to contact her.
