Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) has issued a statement following a video that is circulating on social media platforms that shows a bloodied man who was allegedly assaulted by JRA officials on July 11 in Austin View.
In the statement, the roads agency condemned violent behaviour against anyone including its users and members of the public and wanted to provide clarity and a true account of what transpired during the incident.
The video in question that JRA has seen is a short snippet from one of the videos that were captured at the time of the incident, said the roads agency. Contrary to what is widely believed that JRA officials assaulted a member of the public without provocation, what is shown in the video is only a part and not the entire footage of what took place.
“The incident took place when JRA officials from Resurfacing Depot were doing road maintenance works in Austin View, Midrand,” read the statement.
As per the mandatory standard operating procedures, the officials on duty had barricaded the section of the road they were working on at both ends.
JRA-branded cones and two trucks were used to cordon off the work site as per safety requirements. Roads agency officials alleged that while they were still busy with work, the person in question arrived at the work site and entered the barricaded area.
“He then started honking his car’s horn impatiently and advised the officials that he wanted to pass through.
“It is reported that he then entered the truck used to barricade the one side of the road, released the hand brake, and steered the truck to the edge of the road to make way for his car to pass through.”
The man then got into his car and proceeded until he reached the other end of the road where the second truck was stationed. He stopped his car and entered the truck to also move it to the edge of the road.
However, the JRA said the man found an official inside the truck whom he allegedly grabbed and slapped across the face without provocation. In retaliation, the official fought back to defend himself from the unwarranted attack.
The man has since opened a case and laid a charge of assault against JRA officials. Roads agency officials have in turn opened a case against the man on charges of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, theft for driving the entity’s vehicle without authorisation, entering a barricaded area, and damaging infrastructure.
Midrand police spokesperson Constable Eliot Mabulane confirmed that an investigation by the police was currently underway to gather relevant information on the two charges.
In a move to avoid similar incidents and bring community members up to date about road maintenance works that will be conducted in their respective neighbourhoods, announcements will be made on JRA social media handles.
The JRA will also institute a disciplinary inquiry against the employees involved in this incident and will also cooperate with the police during the ongoing investigations.
Related Article:
https://www.citizen.co.za/midrand-reporter/306534/midrand-is-a-no-go-area-for-criminals-police/
